Mother Teresa Women's University Kodaikanal holds its 21st convocation programme

Updated on: Friday, January 11, 2013

As many as 11, 715 students were awarded their degrees during the 21st convocation programme of Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal, held here on Thursday. Of them, 197 PhD scholars, 54 rank holders and endowment prize recipients received their degrees from Tamil Nadu governor and university chancellor K Rosaiah during the ceremony.

Speaking at the meeting, P Palaniappan, state higher education minister and pro-chancellor of the university urged women to engage in research after completing their graduation. He mentioned water conservation and management and electricity potential areas. "Students should not perceive the education just for the sake of receiving degree certificates. After receiving the degree certificate they should work to resolve social problems," he said.

The minister said Gross Enrolment Ratio in Tamil Nadu is higher compared to the national average. He talked about the state government's initiatives such as allocating Rs 16.5 crore for smart class rooms, foreign language lab, centre of entrepreneurship and curriculum development cell.

K Manimekalai, vice-chancellor, Mother Teresa Women's University, said the institution is in the process of establishing a campus-wide network to utilize the educational research network introduced by the University Grants Commission. Training will be organized for school and college teachers to create awareness among the girl students to protect themselves from abuse. There are plans to sign Memorandums of Understanding with the foreign universities, she said. Post graduate and research courses will be offered at the extension centres of the university at Madurai and Chennai, she added.

Cynthia Pandian, vice-chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, said the university should start programmes that highlight and augment the potential of women from all over the globe. It should also create research programmes and showcase the multifaceted talents and potential of women across the globe, she said. She stressed the development of the university as an International Women's University by building partnerships among women across the globe. Since the university is in an enviable position, located in the salubrious hill station of Kodaikanal, it can attract international students. It has to create teaching and research benchmarks that are truly international and foster entrepreneurship and community development models, she added.

Mother Teresa Women's University Kodaikanal holds its 21st convocation programme

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