Rajasthan Governor and Chancellor Haribhau Bagde on Friday, 30 October called for transforming state-funded universities into Centres of Excellence, urging them to prioritise research, innovation, and industry-aligned education. Speaking at a special review meeting held at Lok Bhawan, Jaipur, Bagde laid out a broad reform agenda covering curriculum redesign, skill development, and digital learning.

Key Directives from the Governor

Bagde called on universities to develop academic courses in step with evolving industry demands and to integrate structured skill-development programmes into their curriculum. He suggested organising online lectures by distinguished subject experts from India and abroad across academic disciplines, saying the initiative would have a lasting positive impact on the quality of higher education.

Citing Raffles University in Neemrana as a model, he said its practice of educating and training students in alignment with industry requirements could serve as a blueprint for other state universities. He also stressed that universities must adapt to the changing landscape of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to remain relevant and competitive.

RUSA Construction and Fund Utilisation

The review meeting also examined construction and repair works being carried out under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). Bagde directed university officials to ensure that all projects are completed within stipulated timelines and meet prescribed quality standards. He instructed authorities to conduct regular on-site inspections and evaluate the performance of construction agencies.

Emphasising the proper utilisation of grants, Bagde said work carried out by executing agencies must be certified against established quality benchmarks. Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Premchand Bairwa seconded this, stressing transparency and accountability in the use of infrastructure funds and calling for strict adherence to RUSA guidelines.

Enrolment Targets and New Colleges

Additional Chief Secretary Kuldeep Ranka told the meeting that increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education is a national priority. Rajasthan has set a target of raising student enrolment by 25 per cent. He noted that 76 new colleges have been established across the state over the past two years, and that Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Alwar have been developed as multi-disciplinary university hubs.

Ranka also recommended that universities promote startups and incubation activities, and appoint Professors of Practice under the RUSA framework to deepen practical learning and strengthen industry engagement.

Other Voices at the Meeting

Governor's Secretary Prithvi stressed the need to develop universities as institutions supporting the holistic development of students while addressing contemporary educational and professional requirements. Higher Education Department Commissioner Nathmal Didel briefed the meeting on state government schemes aimed at strengthening higher education. Vice-Chancellors of various state universities and senior officials were also in attendance.

With Rajasthan's higher education ecosystem at a crossroads, the directives signal a concerted push to move state universities from degree-delivery institutions towards innovation and employment-ready ecosystems — a shift that will be closely watched for follow-through.