Chandigarh: Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women, Chandigarh, held the live screening of an online talk titled ‘Consulting Students’ organised by University Grants Commission’s (UGC) under its online lecture series on Best Practices in Higher Education. Ms. Meeta Rajiv Lochan, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Government of India, delivered this engaging talk. Ms. Meeta said that there is a constant need to generate skilled workforce and emphasised on the need to upskill students so that the dream of becoming a self reliant nation can be fulfilled. Highlighting the importance of curriculum that enhances both knowledge and skills, Ms. Meeta stressed on promotion of value addition courses. She also discussed the need to focus on startups and incubation cells to inculcate and promote innovation and enterpreneurship. With small businesses bearing the brunt of COVID, Ms. Meeta urged the students to engage in a meaningful way with small businesses. The queries of online participants were taken up at the end of the talk.
Principal Dr. Nisha Bhargava said that this endeavour of UGC, Ministry of Education, Government of India, assumes great significance in the light of the increasing importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in the realisation of Atmanirbhar Bharat. She added that the industry-academia gap has to be bridged through value additions in curriculum and making the students industry ready through vocational training.