TN Governor RN Ravi insists on timely convocations, research and academic excellence across state

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 22 (ANI): The Governor-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu, RN Ravi insisted on Thursday that all convocations should be held on time to improve the quality and standards of higher education.
Between April 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024, convocations have been conducted for 18 out of 20 state universities. In instances where the Vice Chancellor position is vacant, the convenor of the Vice-Chancellor Convenor Committee has been formally advised to initiate the process for the conduct of convocation, read Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan press release.
Within the next two months (by October 31, 2024), it has been proposed to conduct convocations for ten universities, thereby ensuring that students receive their degree certificates promptly and without delay.
The Governor-Chancellor has directed the Vice-Chancellors to provide guidance, motivation, and mentorship to research scholars and postgraduate students taking up NET/JRF fellowships.
This initiative aims to elevate the quality of research work, support scholars through enhanced stipends and ensure that the students also get wide opportunities to take up a career in teaching at reputed colleges and universities, added the release.
The Vice-Chancellors have been instructed to support researchers in increasing the filing of patent applications, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. They have also been asked to collaborate with central and private universities.
Consequently, the number of patents obtained by state universities has risen from 206 in 2021-22 to 386 in 2023-24, said the release.
The Governor-Chancellor has been instrumental in bringing together institutions and universities ranked in the top 20 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in Tamil Nadu and has offered a platform for the leading institutions to share their successful strategies and insights with all state universities.
The notable increase in patents awarded, NET/JRF fellowships and the improved NIRF rankings for several state universities underscore the significant impact of these efforts, reflecting a commitment to enhanced research and academic excellence. (ANI)