INTL. MEET ON 'RE-ENGINEERING OF MANAGEMENT EDUCATION

Mysore, Apr. 8 (KK&DM)- Higher Education Minister Dr. V.S. Acharya inaugurated the two-day international meet on 'Re-engineering of Management Education' at Cauvery Auditorium of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) this morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Acharya said the State has achieved a 13.15 % growth in higher education. There were a total of 138 lakh students enrolled in the State studying in classes ranging from first standard to PG courses. There were 103 lakh students studying in classes from 1st to 10th std, 25 lakhs for PUC, ITI and polytechnic courses and 10 lakhs for degree and PG courses. The State government has plans to increase the enrollment in collegiate education from the present 10 lakhs to 25 lakh over the next 7 years, he said.

Continuing, Dr. Acharya said the State government will give due importance to Management Education in this era of globalisation. Budgetary allocation for education in the State stood at Rs. 4,400 crore in 2004 while this figure touched Rs. 12, 284 crore five years later. In addition to this, private institutions too have made significant contribution to the field of education, he remarked. Pointing out that Karnataka has been recognised as the education hub in the Asian continent, Dr. Acharya said the state has over the years become a favourite destination for Asian students to pursue higher education.

Complimenting KSOU for its MBA course, Dr. Acharya said the increasing demand for the course is a good sign. Of late, there has been an increasing gap between education and employment and it is time for everyone concerned to introspect on the urgent need for bridging this gap, he said.

Josef Jooste Coetzee of Johannesburh, South Africa, delivered the keynote address. KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa presided.

Sanjeev Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Financial Services, New Delhi, Tushar Girinath, Commissioner, Department of Collegiate Education, KSOU Dean Prof. Jagadeesha, Registrar K.R. Jayprakash Rao were present.

Minister Acharya, Coetzee, Sanjeev Bajaj and Tushar Girinath were felicitated by the KSOU on the occasion.

Company representatives, MBA and Business Management students and experts from across the country and the world are taking part in this 2-day meet which concludes tomorrow with the valedictory address by Prof. K.B. Akhilesh of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore at 4 pm. Star Of Mysore