Education in India is undergoing rapid changes. The challenges ahead are multi-faceted and multi- dimensional. There is a quantitative increase in the students’ enrollment in colleges/universities. Yet holistic view reveals that still only 7-8% of the total population take up higher education. In a dynamic changing ecosystem, the industry - academia gap seems to be widening even for this percentage.

On one side, it is the basic issues like access, quality, infrastructure, funding etc. and on the other, it is the quality of teaching, huge numbers, curriculum, Industry preparedness, knowledge and skill levels, examinations, competitiveness, etc. The Union Government is doing a commendable job of making some radical changes and taking “path breaking initiatives” to streamline and make education more meaningful.

It is in this background Knowledge Xchange, a Chennai-based NGO, through its conference on “DNA of Higher Education” “Recalibration – responsibility, growth & competitiveness” to be held on Saturday, 7th November 2009, is bringing in thought leaders, academicians, policy makers to share the three or four point agenda, that must be looked into to make our youth globally competitive in the coming years.

Some of the thoughts that would be shared on this forum by the stake holders, students, parents, faculty, management and Government officials would be a wish list, and crystallizing the ideas, we are sure, we could draw out a road map.

The audience would have a mix of Vice Chancellors, Principals, Deans, Faculty, Students, Parents and Government Officials. The Conference will be focusing on Learning, Teaching and Governance in the various sectors of higher education, such as, Engineering, Medical, Law, Management, Arts & Science, etc. apart from discussing issues arising out of the Yashpal Committee Report.

Smt. D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development has consented to deliver the inaugural address. Some of the eminent speakers confirmed for the forum includes: Prof. Dr. N.R. Madhava Menon, Member, Commission on Centre State Relations, New Delhi, Prof. Dr M S Ananth, Director, IIT, Chennai, Prof. Dr. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi, Prof. Dr C S Venkata Ratnam, Director, International Management Institute, New Delhi and Dr. George M Chandy, former Director of CMC Vellore, We expect other eminent speakers in the field of higher education to address the participants.

I am writing to request you to take advantage of this extremely relevant programme by participating and also nominating senior colleagues from your organization. As only limited seats are available, registrations would be accepted on first-come-first-serve basis. Please do confirm your participation using the enclosed Reply Form at the earliest, so to avail the early bird discount available on the delegate fee for registrations received before 23rd October 2009.

I look forward to your early response.

With Warm Regards,

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