Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed that all universities in the state establish strong coordination with industries and ensure the annual organization of job fairs in universities and colleges to enhance employment opportunities for the youth.
He said that Haryana is emerging as a major industrial hub, attracting numerous multinational companies to set up operations. In this context, universities and colleges must play a proactive role in ensuring that students directly benefit from this industrial growth. He said that the government’s objective is to empower students to become self-reliant by securing employment opportunities during the course of their education.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while chairing a review meeting of the Higher Education Department in Panchkula today. The Vice Chancellors of all state universities were also present in the meeting.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the implementation status of the announcements made in the current financial year’s budget to promote higher education. He directed that all such announcements be executed within the stipulated timelines so that students and academic institutions can benefit at the earliest.
He also instructed the Vice Chancellors to strengthen and fully operationalize their respective placement cells, enabling students to access employment opportunities at the institutional level. Additionally, he called for the compilation of data regarding students employed abroad, have launched startups, or achieved notable success in various fields. This data should be compiled into a centralized dashboard, which would aid in future planning and policymaking.
*Students should be encouraged to conduct research on socially relevant issues: CM*
The Vice Chancellors expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister i for establishing a Rs 20 crore Research and Innovation Fund, adding that Haryana is the first state in the country to introduce such a fund specifically to promote research and innovation. They highlighted that the initiative would greatly support students in pursuing research across diverse subjects. The Chief Minister further urged universities to encourage students to undertake research on issues of social importance.
It was also informed during the meeting that the government has set a target to increase the state’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education from the current 33 percent to 50 percent. As part of this initiative, a model Sanskriti College will be established in each district, contributing significantly toward achieving this goal.
Reviewing the overall functioning of state universities, the Chief Minister called for dedicated efforts to make these institutions self-reliant.
Also present at the meeting were Chairman of the Haryana State Higher Education Council K.C. Sharma; OSD to the Chief Minister Dr. Raj Nehru and Rakesh Sandhu, Director of the Technical Education Department; Prabhjot Singh, senior officials from the Higher Education Department and Vice Chancellors of various state universities.
