IIIT, Bhagalpur to emerge as model centre: Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank

PATNA: Union minister for education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank digitally laid the foundation stone of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Bhagalpur on Monday. He expressed confidence that this institution would further revive the glory of Bhagalpur, which excelled in education in ancient times with Vikramshila, once known for imparting education to students from various countries.
Speaking through virtual platform, Nishank called upon the students and faculty to pursue the vision and make it a mission to take country to new heights.He stressed on research and development in silk manufacturing and trade which traditionally had been associated with Bhagalpur.
Saying that there was no lack of vision and missionary zeal in students, he hoped that the IIIT at Bhagalpur would emerge as a model centre. “This centre has come up under PPP mode with the Centre, state and industrial sector and investment share of 50%, 35% and 15% respectively,” the minister said.
“Such institutions and startup centres will make new path for development, challenges and opportunities and impress the world. Today, the world looks at India with hope and confidence once again. We have to show them new ways. We have to convert the race for package into race for patent and should become job givers and not merely job seekers,” Nishank said.
India is becoming a super power of education, the minister said while referring to the new education policy. He said it had impressed many countries. Nishank said he has been invited by Cambridge to tell the world about this policy. The education ministers of the UAE, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mauritius and other nations met him and praised this innovative policy, he added.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that facilities would be provided to students to get higher education in their mother tongues so that they could become doctors and engineers in their own language, Nishank said this way India would become ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) and education would become the platform for reform and perform.
Bihar education minister Ashok Choudhary, who was also present virtually for the event, said, “Bihar has got another excellent institution in the field of higher education in the form of IIIT Bhagalpur. This institute would play a major role in transforming the state’s education.”