Irrespective of what media house they represent, more than 10 senior journalists from all over the region came together under one roof for a noble cause on Sunday to discuss the need of an educational institute, particularly University, which can be truly said to be a 'Peoples varsity”.
All these members of the media fraternity, gathered in the administrative block of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) on Sunday in a programme organised to interact with the media for Incorporating Ideas to make USTM a Peoples varsity.
Almost all the media persons agreed on a point that although there is a mushroom growth of institutes all over, particularly in an around Guwahati, there is not are very few institute which has grown up to be called as a 'Peoples Varsity'. But at the same time they said that Education, Research & Development Foundation (ERDF), the initiator of USTM, with its initiative has successfully established many institutes that can be called to be “Peoples” because of its Philanthropic nature.
The Senior Journalists also gave many of their valuable suggestions to make USTM a Peoples varsity. PJ Baruah, Executive Editor of The Assam Tribune said that episode of CMJ University granting PhD Degrees illegally has made it tough for the private Universities to ensure people's confidence. “CMJ is like one rotten egg which is bringing a bad name to every private university. To ensure non repetition of such ill practices in future, the authorities of all the universities must come together to form a vigilant body to keep such activities under scanner. The university authorities must also be in continuous touch with the government authorities and report event the minutest activity of suspiciousness” said Baruah.
Meanwhile, NI Laskar, Executive Editor of Eastern Chronicle, pondered on the issue of responsible reporting when it comes to educational institute, “Because it is not about defaming an organisation but with it is associated the future of hundreds of students and hopes of their parents” said Laskar. He also added, “We the people of media must know clearly what are different agencies, councils and bodies we must be associated to grant a particular degree.”
However, Nava Thakuria, Secretary of Guwahati Press Club, said that the authority of a university must always be available and should be well connected with the media, so that the confusion in the minds of media persons and mass as a whole can be easily removed. “Confusion creates doubt and doubts creates miss leading stories,” said the Secretary of Guwahati Press Club who also added “an organisation, particularly educational institutes have Sundays and other Holidays and Bandhs, but not Media. The Media here has become more Vibrant, Aggressive Sensational and Arrogant, media have become impatient due to the demand of fast dissemination of news. So they do not wait. And with the development of connectivity all over, particularly Social Networking Sites, getting connected with the mass and media is not a problem at all”. He also said about the effective use of media and technology to make USTM a peoples varsity.
Senior Journalist, Samudra Gupta Kashyap of India Express asked USTM to incorporate more industry oriented courses and courses to contribute to the employment generation in the local industry.
Manoj Agasthi of Dainik Purvodaya, Hiren Saikiah of Niyamiya Barta, Jayanta Ghosh, Sub Editor of Dainik Jugasankha, K Chakravarty of Samayik Prasanga and F Mazumder of Dainik Jugasankha also also gave their valuable suggestions and asked the university authority to be more people oriented.
Many other renowned personalities from the media fraternity were also present on the occasion, where the Honourable Chancellor of USTM, Mahbubul Hoque described the objectives of the University as well as its initiator ERDF. He also gave a view of the journey for USTM on its completion of successful one year and described on various affilations, recognisations and NOC's that the University has been awarded to impart quality education in various courses.
PK Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor USTM, RK Sharmah, Pro-Vice Chancellor, USTM, Alaka Sharma, Dean School of Bussiness Sciences along with other officials of USTM were also present on the occasion of Incorporating Ideas from media fraternity to make USTM a Peoples University.
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