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Bangladesh UGC Chairman delivered the 3rd Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture
at USTM
I revere Dr Kalam as a teacher first: UGC
Chairman, Bangladesh
Ninth Mile,
Ri Bhoi, 25 October 2018: Professor Abdul Mannan, Chairman, University
Grants Commission, Bangladesh today delivered the 3rd Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Memorial Lecture on “Dr Kalam’s Contribution in Igniting Global Minds”. The
annual lecture has been organized by the University of Science & Technology
Meghalaya (USTM) in the honour of Dr Kalam and was attended by a host of
students, teachers and dignitaries, including Prof Ved Prakash, Formar UGC
Chairman, Prof Sanjay Deshmukh, Former Vice Chancellor, Mumbai University, Mr RK
Pillai, MD, EDIBON International, Spain, Dr Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur,
Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh.
Delivering his lecture, Prof Abdul Mannan said that he reveres Dr. APJ Abdul
Kalam first as a teacher, then as a scientist, and, finally, as the former
President of India. “Throughout his life, the late Dr. Kalam tried to motivate
his country’s people, and its youth because he saw the future of a nation lay
especially with them, how they are groomed and from human beings transformed
into human resources. This is more than ever true for countries in Asia, a
continent that has been ravaged and plundered by colonial powers for centuries”,
he said.
The Chairman of UGC Bangladesh said that now is time to discuss the Fourth
Industrial Revolution that is knocking at our door. The Fourth Industrial
Revolution has ridden on the back of digital technology and its primary driving
forces are the innovative capability of mankind and the mastery of the skills of
production of goods and services at a rapid pace and at minimum cost ensuring
maximum output and efficient distribution. The advent of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution has made knowledge-based societies a reality. This revolution will
determine the future destination of nations and its driving force is human
intelligence, innovation and the ability to see the future. All three
determinants of the future of nations and mankind are embedded in human beings.
To keep pace with the demands of time, it has now become imperative to master
the ability to integrate these three determinants and create synergy.
He said that the young generation will not only have to acquire new knowledge
and skills but must also learn how to. Learning today is a blending of science
with skills. It must be realized that the life cycle of knowledge and skill is
very short in today’s world. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence is now a
reality. To survive in such an uncomfortable world, societies and countries must
realize it will not be possible to save or retain jobs but attempts must be made
to provide security to people in terms of skills which can only be possible by
providing appropriate education and training.
Prof Mannan said that India may be the world’s number one economic power in
terms of PPP but to hold on to that position is a big challenge. The key to
confronting this is to invest in human development on a continuous basis,
opening up windows to a newer world of knowledge and acknowledging that the real
wealth of any nation lies in its people and not in its natural resources. It
must also be acknowledged that technology is no substitute for human
intelligence.
Earlier, welcoming Prof Abdul Mannan, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor, USTM urged
everyone to follow the footsteps of Dr Kalam. Prof Abdul Mannan was honoured
yesterday by USTM through the conferment of Hon. D. Litt. Degree at a Special
Convocation Ceremony held at Guwahati where the Assam Education Minister
Siddhartha Bhattacharya was present. This was followed by a discussion titled
“Bilateral Collaboration Opportunities in the Field of Higher Education between
Bangladesh and North East India” where the Vice Chancellors of several
Universities and Directors of Institutions from Assam and Meghalaya
participated. The programme was hosted by Assistant High Commissioner of
Bangladesh, Guwahati in association with USTM.
PHOTO CAPTION: Prof Abdul Mannan, Chairman, UGC, Bangladesh delivering
the 3rd Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture organized by USTM on 25th October
2018 at the University campus at 9th Mile.
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