Special Correspondent
Panaji
Stating that the persons, who know where they come from, are far less likely to lose their way, Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Saturday said that regional identity, language and culture should not be interpreted as obstacles to progress, but seen as sources of strength, balance and perspective.
The Governor, speaking as the Chancellor of Goa University at the 36th convocation of the university, urged students to stay connected to their roots.
“A strong sense of identity always helps people to stay focused on their goals,” he added, pointing out, “Knowledge is not a destination but a lifelong journey.”
The convocation ceremony was held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium on the Goa University campus.
Chief guest and keynote speaker on the occasion was Abhay Karandikar, the secretary to the department of science and technology, government of India. Vice-Chancellor of Goa University Prof Harilal Menon and Registrar of the university, Prof Sunder Dhuri, were also present.
Delivering the key-note address, Prof Karandikar said that the Goa University has played a critical role in building human capital not only for Goa but for the entire country.
He also said that education is far more than marks, ranks or degrees, and is mainly about developing the capacity to think critically, questioning the assumptions, adapting to change and acting responsibly.
The Vice-Chancellor, in his speech, said that although Goa University is among the smaller public universities in the country, it regularly acquits itself admirably in terms of varied parameters that constitute matrix for institutions of higher learning, to emerge as a veritable, multidisciplinary education and research university.
He also said that in the most recent National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for 2025, Goa University figured in the respectable band of 51 to 100 universities, in the state-funded public university category.
It was also informed that the Goa University Research Park Unit (GURU) set up in the faculty block at the university campus has been initiated to coordinate activities of the university related to innovation, incubation, entrepreneurship and industrial interaction.
The dignitaries conferred doctorates and degrees upon some of the students. In all, 15,036 students of Goa University received their graduation degrees, 2,176 students received post-graduation degrees, 138 students received their diplomas and 129 students received doctoral degrees.
