Reported by: Mrinal Banik

Agartala: Education, research and innovation will play an important role in the development of Tripura, and greater opportunities must be created for young people, Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Friday as Tripura University marked its 40th Foundation Day.

The university, which was established on October 2, 1987, used the occasion to outline its priorities for the coming years, with research, innovation, employment-oriented education and stronger links with industry and other universities forming key components of its proposed development strategy.

The university also unveiled a proposed investment plan of around Rs 1,589 crore for infrastructure, research and academic development as it seeks to strengthen its institutional capabilities.

Vice-Chancellor Debabrata Das said the university was entering its fifth decade with an emphasis on strengthening the links between higher education, research, industry and employment.

He said the focus would be on creating an ecosystem in which students could acquire knowledge and skills relevant to employment, while researchers could find greater opportunities for innovation, collaboration and application of their work.

Das said nearly 1,500 research papers had been published over the past five years, averaging around 300 papers annually. He also referred to 75 international-standard research papers and 25 patents as part of the university’s research activities.

The proposed Rs 1,589-crore project plan is a key component of the university’s development strategy. Das said the projects would strengthen infrastructure and research capabilities and provide the institutional foundation for the university’s next stage of development.

He also sought greater support from the state government, saying sustained institutional backing would be important for the university’s objective of becoming a world-class institution.

The administration has also placed emphasis on industry-academia collaboration, seeking to strengthen the connection between classroom learning and employment opportunities.

The university proposed five memoranda of understanding as part of its Foundation Day initiatives.

Two of the proposed agreements are academic and research collaborations with Assam University and Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore.

The other three consist of the North East Financial Inclusion Trust (NEFIT), associated with the Bandhan Group and based in Agartala; the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, a statutory body constituted under the Cost Accountants Act, 1959; and the Pahle India Foundation, an FCRA-certified not-for-profit policy think tank established in 2013.

The proposed agreements are expected to provide avenues for joint academic programmes, research, skill development and institutional exchange, subject to the terms eventually agreed upon by the institutions.

Bandhan Group chairman Chandra Shekhar Ghosh announced financial assistance of Rs 10 crore for the university’s development and assured support for future projects.

Das said the university also intended to strengthen its engagement beyond the campus, with six villages selected for initiatives aimed at addressing local needs.

The initiative is intended to connect university knowledge and research with community-level requirements and social concerns.

Saha, addressing the Foundation Day programme, said education, research and innovation would be important components of Tripura’s development.

He said the state government was committed to creating greater opportunities for students and encouraging young people to contribute to the development of Tripura and the country.

Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman described the completion of four decades as more than a numerical milestone and said the anniversary represented the contribution of generations of students, teachers and researchers.

The Foundation Day programme began with the hoisting of the university flag by the Vice-Chancellor at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Academic Building.

Teachers, officials, employees and students participated in the celebrations. Awards were presented to teachers, employees and students as part of the programme.

Among those present were university Chancellor Ahmed Javed; Assam University, Silchar, Vice-Chancellor Rajiv Mohan Pant; Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Singhvi; and Bandhan Group chairman Chandra Shekhar Ghosh.

Earlier in the day, the university organised a programme at City Centre in Agartala to mark Gandhi Jayanti and its Foundation Day. Participants paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and recalled his principles of truth, non-violence, peace and service.

The university administration has placed research, innovation, employment-oriented education, institutional collaboration and community engagement at the centre of its development agenda.

However, the proposed projects, partnerships and research initiatives will depend on their implementation and the outcomes they produce for students, researchers and the wider community.