kathmandu / Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has spoken of the need for making higher education scientific, practical, job-oriented, innovative and quality, terming it the need of the hour.

 In his address to the 11th Senate of the Mid-Western University (MWU) here today, Prime Minister Deuba who is also the University Chancellor stressed the need for revising University curriculum for producing skilled graduates so as to guide country’s overall development course. “For this, scientific, applied, job-oriented and quality university education should be guaranteed by promoting collaboration among universities at home and abroad.”

 “We are known to the fact that COVID-19 pandemic has its global impact at a larger scale and the education sector is one of areas severely affected by it,” the Prime Minister said, lauding the University’s ability to ensure virtual classes and exams during the crisis.

 He took time to express his hope that the University would play significant role to generate skilled and efficient graduates and support to improve the people’s living standard through the promotion of natural heritages, indigenous knowledge and skills inherited by the Karnali Province where the University is based.

 He was of the opinion of focusing on enhancing the quality of education in accordance with the national and international context, making educational plans and programs research-oriented, and conducting contemporary studies of various disciplines and dimensions of social sciences. The Prime Minister urged the University leadership to come with plans to develop the University into the ‘Center of Excellence’.

 The University leadership has also been asked to conduct its educational programmes successfully and act as a bridge to interlink academic efforts with the social transformation process. Stating that achievements from the investment in education would determine the future of any nation, the Prime Minister said, “I believe that this University should address our local and national needs determined by our national education policy and produce human resource capable of competing in the international labour market.’’

 He further expected that the University would remain effortful to promote self –employment, produce efficient graduates and to encourage students to pursue a higher degree within the country and thus reducing the size of capital flight. As he hoped, the University would be able to ensure development of sufficient physical infrastructure and implement academic activities successfully by keeping up with fiscal discipline, sound managerial skills and establishing good governance.