Universities are living things!
Universities have, of late, come under severe criticism. But the truth of the matter remains that universities across the country have worked relentlessly to impart the different branches of knowledge, starting from humanities to the sciences. Of course there are some gaps and lapses on part of the universities for which the universities, however, are not alone responsible. Perhaps, things would improve if we made the necessary changes in the system itself and in governance.
The other day I was going through a new project profile of Reading University, UK, called “IMAGINE” aimed at bringing about development in the fields of education, environment, food, health, heritage, culture and creativity, etc. As alumni of Reading University, I have always felt that our universities should also take such initiatives and the faculties should devote themselves in national and social development activities and add their own creativity into the mix. Here, I would like to quote from W. M. Childs, the first Vice-Chancellor of Reading University (1926-29): “Universities are living things: they feel, think and do. They are centres of intelligence; they are concerned with ideas; they have outposts upon the frontiers of knowledge; they sometimes do beautiful and remarkable things; they dream and imagine”.
Professor M Zahidul Haque
Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Comments