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00:00centres and centres of excellence. These centres are expected to spearhead research in cutting-edge
00:07areas facilitating the growth of new knowledge in essential areas. Genomics, Ayurveda, nanotechnology,
00:17One Health, astrophysics, graphene technology, neurosciences, etc. are some areas in which
00:25we have already started centres of excellence. The transformations we have aimed at also
00:34requires infrastructural investment. Since more research facilities have to be established in
00:40our institutions of higher learning, the government has spent 1,844 crores through
00:50KIFBI, 2,718 crores through the state plan, and another 212.8 crores as state's share of
01:01RUSA fund of 532 crores for infrastructure development in the universities and colleges.
01:09More laboratories and instrumentation centres have already been established and more are in
01:16the pipeline. More than 150 crores have already been sanctioned to build international hostels
01:24and translational research facilities in various university campuses. We have plans to establish
01:33more inter-university centres of excellence also. Through PMUSHA project, where the central
01:41government and the state government will be sharing project cost in 60 to 40 ratio,
01:49we expect to have projects of 405 crores for various campuses. During the tenure of this
01:59government, we have started 78 new colleges and 866 new courses, most of them are new generation
02:09courses. Availability of seats has been dramatically increased in all sectors, including
02:16engineering and other professional programs. The quantitative changes pave the way for quality
02:24enhancement initiatives, including the induction of AI-assisted teaching and learning, a fully
02:32automated enterprising resource planning system, revamping and updating of syllabi on a regular
02:40basis, constant and consistent faculty training and exploration of new research and pedagogic
02:48avenues. We see the reflection of these qualitative changes in the grades and rankings achieved by our
02:58institutions in NAC accreditation process and NIRF ranking. Kerala University and DMG University
03:07bagged A+++. Three universities, including Twizat, bagged A+. And our universities are neatly placed
03:19in international rankings also. Even though we have succeeded in implementing the first stage
03:25of reforms suggested by the commissions, we are both saddened and enraged by the attempts of the
03:33central government and its organs like the UGC to devalue, undermine and obliterate the state's role
03:43by blowing up and placing the chancellor above the state, forgetting that the chancellor is a creation
03:51of the state's legislature. Let me take this opportunity to assure you that we shall overcome
03:59these hurdles and tirelessly strive to give a qualitatively as well as quantitatively advanced
04:08higher education to the next generation. As we have almost completed the first stage of reforms
04:15in the higher education sector, it is very urgent to trace the future path of second stage of
04:22reforms. Our intention is to make Kerala's higher education sector to be more attractive to both
04:30domestic and foreign students. For this, we have to forge new strategies. We have to provide
04:38world-class infrastructure and the latest academic methodologies. We have to ensure
04:45brain gain instead of brain drain. For this purpose, I seek the support, suggestions, collaborations
04:55and advices of all the esteemed personalities who participate.