The Governor Baby Rani Maurya stressed on the importance of distance education, citing its growing popularity over the past few years.  “It is the best means of taking education in the remote areas where the students find it difficult to get education in the regular universities,” she said while addressing the fourth convocation of Uttarakhand Open University here on Tuesday. She said that as per the latest report of the higher education survey, 11 percent of the total enrolments in higher education are from distance education.

Lauding distance education, she said that the biggest quality of distance education is that its doors are open for everyone and there no age limit for enrolling. She added that the distance education is being made popular by use of latest technology. The Governor called for regularly updating the curriculum so that the courses offered are relevant at both national and international levels.

In her address, she exhorted the students to make use of the knowledge gained for the benefit of the society.

She added that the knowledge not shared becomes useless. She further said that the students and the teachers should come forward and contribute on the missions like Swachchh Bharat, Skill India and Digital India.

The Minister of State for Higher Education Dhan Singh Rawat said that the State Government is committed to taking the quality of higher education to another level. He said that efforts are being made to link higher education with vocational education.

The Minister declared that every university would hold convocations every year and distribute degrees.

Besides, from next year, five teachers from higher education would be felicitated every year on the occasion of birth anniversary of Bhakt Darshan Singh.

Rawat declared that the State Government would open higher edification centres for Garhwali and Kumaoni to preserve the languages.

He added that the Government would make Sanskrit, Veda and Yoga studies compulsory in all the universities, based in the State.

In his address, the vice- chancellor of the university D K Naudiyal said that the university is progressing on the path of development ever since its establishment. He said that despite constraint of resources, the university was able to secure second rank among the universities of the State.

The VC further said that the number of student enrolment is on rise here. A total of 2256 students were awarded degrees on the occasion.  Doctoral degrees were conferred upon seven research scholars by the Governor in the ceremony. Noted folk singer Pritam Bhartwan was also present on the occasion.