Ahmedabad: On occasion of World Habitat Day, Gujarat Technological University and Centre of Continuing Education and Skill Development, The Institution of Engineers (India), Gujarat State Centre (CCESD-IEIGSC) had signed a MoU with objective of establishing, maintaining and enhancing academic and intellectual interaction between GTU and CCESD-IEIGSC, with a view to promoting excellence in studies and practices relating to Engineering and Technological Sciences.
The MoU was signed by Shri S.J. Desai, Chairman of The Institution of Engineers (India), Gujarat Centre and Shri J.C. Lilani, I/c Registrar of GTU in presence of Dr. Sam Pitroda, Internationally respected telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker as well as Dr. Rajul Gajjar, I/c Vice Chancellor of GTU. Both the institutions agree to enter into a wide ranging partnership for joint research & consultancy, workshops / seminars / conferences, training, publications and exchange of resource persons for the activities mentioned in this Agreement. Both institutions agreed to take up joint research and development projects of interest to both the parties on matters related to Engineering & Technological sciences. GTU and CCESD-IEIGSC will promote exchange of faculty, research and resource persons for guest lectures, joint research projects and interaction on issues relating to Engineering and Technological sciences.
The MoU signing ceremony was followed by Expert lecture on Digital India and National Development by Dr. Sam Pitroda. Dr. Pitroda said the gatering of engineers, students and faculty members that the Digital Revolution started in ’80s and since last three decades, technology became forefront in increasing productivity and efficiency. This is visible in Banking, Courts, Police, Income Tax, Passport, License etc. as we are getting the benefits of technology much more since last 10 years. He recommended series of steps to improve education system. He said that education must match supply and demand and quality must be improved. He advised to implement three steps: (1) Expansion, (2) Excellence and (3) Equity to improve current state of education. He told that young children should teach elders about tools of technology. He advised youth to be disciplined, creative, ethical, respectful and honest. He also advised students to explore people different from themselves. He said that Gandhiji was great & students should read his books.
He said that now age of Internet of Things (IOT) will start. In next 5-7 years, cars will be driverless. Think of its implications. Millions of driver jobs will go away. Robots will replace human beings in some fields. In such a scenario, education must be on common cloud. Only to provide content in local language will be a challenge. Instead of Smart Cities, there should be planning of Happy Cities. We must develop ecosystem to restructure planning. According to me cost of communications and transportation in Smart Cities should be zero. Such cities should have free energy, free education and free healthcare.
Comments