Patna: Governor-cum-Chancellor Syed Ata Hasnain on Wednesday said the shortcomings in Bihar’s higher education system would be addressed within the next few weeks, paving the way for quality higher education in the state.
Inaugurating an online classroom and mass communication studio at Nalanda Open University (NOU), Hasnain said the chancellor’s secretariat has initiated a series of reforms, including revising the curriculum framework for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, upgrading PhD regulations, and modifying eligibility criteria for the appointment of assistant professors on both regular and contractual posts.
He said amendments have also been made to the appointment process of vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors to ensure that the best available candidates are selected to head universities. The chancellor, however, reminded the state higher education department to ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions to university employees.
“Making teachers and non-teaching employees work for a month and then not paying them their hard-earned wages is unacceptable. There should be no compromise on the salary or pension of university staff if the state’s higher education system is to improve,” he said.
Hasnain also urged youngsters to hone their communication skills with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to secure a brighter future. He said AI serves as a powerful catalyst for enhancing communication and storytelling.
“AI platforms allow users to practise public speaking, interviews and interpersonal interactions. They also democratise filmmaking, making it easier to create short films on day-to-day happenings in neighbourhoods. Users can write a script or simply provide a prompt on a local event or the historical significance of a place like Nalanda,” he said.
Additional chief secretary to the governor Dipak Kumar Singh, NOU vice-chancellor Ravindra Kumar, and the Nalanda district magistrate and superintendent of police were also present on the occasion.
Later, the governor visited Nava Nalanda Mahavihara University and the Xuanzang Memorial Complex in Nalanda.
