Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Tetso College organised a two-day online national conference on the topic “higher education in North East India: trends, opportunities and challenges”. The conference commenced on January 22.
A press release by Tetso College stated that while presenting the keynote address, principal, NEISSR, Dr. Fr. C.P. Anto urged participants to reflect on the situation of higher education, its challenges and opportunities in the post-pandemic scenario.
Presenting a brief report on higher education in the North East, Dr. Anto stated that there were 10 central universities, 13 state universities, 31 private universities, one deemed university and 924 colleges in the region according to UGC.
Besides this, he pointed out challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and sustainability of financial support, digital divide, theory-based syllabus, etc.
However, he said that the higher education system was growing rapidly and with vibrant youth populace from the region, the possibilities could be endless.
He also said that “the function of universities is not merely to send out technically skilled and professionally competent persons but to produce in them the quality of compassion”.
Welcoming the participants, IQAC Coordinator, Tetso College, Dr Elika Assumi stated that the global pandemic had beset educational institutions with challenges never faced before while also affording novel avenues for innovation such as the online platform.
She mentioned that this was the first NAAC sponsored national conference being held online and expressed optimism that the relationship would continue to create strong academic partnership.
In her inaugural speech, vice-principal, Tetso College, Dr. Hewasa Lorin thanked participants and organisers and pointed out two imminent issues to be tackled in the education sector; to overcome digital learning divide caused by the pandemic and to implement the new education policy.
Dr. Hewasa was hopeful that there were opportunities for academicians to create a sizeable impact especially when they were aware of the challenges.
Meanwhile other presenters on the inaugural day were Dr. Parimala Veluvali, Dr. S. Elika Assumi, Wapangsenla Imchen, Dr. S. Maxwell Lyngdoh, Dr. Sabur Ali M & Dr. Rimmei Longmei, Sumita Banik Saha, Jube Boruah Mondalon and Dr. Aniruddha Babar & Dr. Debabrataon.
Earlier, the inaugural session was chaired by department in-charge, Tetso College, Dr. Rosy Tep while special song was presented by MA English 3rd semester, Mmhatsu Humtsoe.
15 academicians from various parts of the country such as Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, and Nagaland are presenting papers in the National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC) sponsored conference.
