West Bengal should improve its higher education standards: Amartya Sen

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government should improve the over-all standard of higher education in the state and not just the Presidency University, said nobel laureate and advisor to the Presidency University mentor group, Amartya Sen.

"The government should also focus on other iconic institutions like the Jadavpur University, Bengal Engineering and Science University, and the medical colleges which along with the Presidency had at one point take Bengal to the pinnacle of educational excellence," Prof Sen said. He was talking to reporters after a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee and chairman of the Presidency mentor group, Sugata Bose.

Bose, who is the Gardiner Professor of History at Harvard University, said the government can develop Presidency as a pilot project which can be followed by the other institutions.

"Revival of Presidency has a symbolic value for the state. But the quality of education at other institutions has to improve. The chief minister has told us that the government will implement our vision plan and is keen to improve the condition of other institutions as well," said Prof Bose.

Prof Sen said the mentor group needs to focus on three areas to improve the standard of Presidency -- try and involve the civil society in functioning of the institution even though it is a state university, focus on improving the quality of research, and to develop a harmonious relationship with the Presidency authority so that the institute can expand into newer areas.

"These are vital since I and the mentor group can only give recommendations. The implementation will have to be done by the Presidency authority and the vice chancellor. Hence, there should be a harmonious relationship with the mentor group in the entire process," said Prof Sen.