Hyderabad: VRC Phaniharan
The Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) is working towards bringing a practical and qualitative change in education. The aim is to align with the state government’s vision of turning Hyderabad into a technology hub. In the past, TGCHE focused on collaborations with foreign institutions, but these efforts did not yield significant results. Now, the council is shifting its focus to a “Look-in-India” model.
TGCHE Chairman, Prof. V Balakista Reddy, shared that while the council is still open to international partnerships, they are also exploring opportunities for strategic collaborations within India. The new approach focuses on leveraging the existing resources and expertise available in the country.
This new strategy involves three main goals. First, the council plans to sign MoUs to set up research parks and innovation hubs. This will help provide practical, hands-on experience to students in higher education across Telangana.
Second, the council aims to focus on capacity building for faculty and researchers, while also promoting startup incubation and infrastructure development. Industry-university partnerships are also a key part of this plan. Additionally, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), University Grants Commission (UGC), and other bodies are releasing large funds for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, which TGCHE seeks to utilize effectively.
Third, TGCHE is pushing for a 360-degree model to make the most of existing collaborations. This approach aims to foster more economical and sustainable partnerships with top educational institutions in India, such as IIT-Madras. The goal is to align these efforts with the state government’s drive to create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities.
TGCHE is also looking forward to partnerships in fields like space science and technology, which could benefit Telangana by building skilled human capital. These collaborations could lead to the creation of new businesses and jobs, helping the state’s economy grow, Prof. Reddy added.
