Dr Madhu Chitkara, Dr Ashok K. Chitkara at National Summit on Higher Education for Skill Development and Employability

Dr. Ashok K. Chitkara, Chancellor, and Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University, were at the National Summit on Higher Education for Skill Development and Employability organised by the Education Promotion Society for India. It was organised at Hotel Shivalik View, Chandigarh. Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Parkash Singh Badal, was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Dr. Madhu Chitkara and Brig (Dr.) R.S. Grewal, VSM, (Retd) were the key panelists during the session.

Formed by a group of senior educationists, educational entrepreneurs, intellectuals, industry leaders and policy makers EPSI has assumed a catalytic role in promoting the growth and quality of education in India. The society coordinates between Government and institutional operators, between academia and industry between the student community and beneficiary employers and between national and international bodies committed to the advancement of education.

Highlighting the role of vocational training in higher education, Badal said, “Although India is the youngest nation in the world with more than 60 per cent of its population under 30 years of age, it is unfortunate that only 3 per cent is trained with vocational skills. This is in sharp contrast to countries like Korea, which has 96 per cent population trained in vocational skills, and Japan and European countries like Germany and France where more than 80 professionals are trained with technical skills.”

Minister of State for HRD Ram Shankar Katheria, chairman of UGC Review Committee Hari Gautam, EPSI president and chancellor of VIT University G Viswanathan and others were also present. Vice-chancellors and heads of the institutions of more than 50 universities and 100 colleges across India took part in the summit.