Vellore: Dr K Kasturirangan, former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation and former Chairman, National Education Policy Committee has urged students to aspire for deepening and broadening of their knowledge, learn to experience the power of collective teamwork and always be guided by higher values which they believe in.
Delivering the convocation address virtually at the Vellore Institute of Technology’s (VIT) 35th annual convocation on Friday, Kasturirangan emphasised that as inheritors of a society which blossomed up great values for life and a deep concern for human development, students should intensely aspire for deepening and broadening your knowledge, learn to experience the power of collective team work, and always be guided by higher values which you believe in.
Quoting the American writer and futurist Alvin Toffler, Kasturirangan said that the illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot, learn, unlearn and relearn.
Pointing out that with advances in technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and augmented reality, an increasing number of hybrid jobs where a human’s vocational skills will complement the capabilities of high-tech equipment could be foreseen, Kasturirangan said that higher education system is therefore necessary to prepare students for such jobs.
“Vocational education will thus become an integral part of the larger vision of liberal education,” he added.
Dr G Viswanathan, Chancellor, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in his presidential address thanked the government of India for selecting VIT as one among the 10 public and 10 private institutions for Institution of Eminence.