Much needs to be done to bring higher education at world level, says President Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said much was required to be done to bring the higher education of the country at the world level.

Speaking at the Seventh Convocation of Vinoba Bhave University at Hazaribagh on Saturday, he said India was world leader in the field of higher education and research for 1800 years. Taxilla University of ancient India was a seat of specialised learning for Indian, Greek and Persian Civilisations.

The President hoped that recent listing of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Banglore, and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, in world's top 200 research and development institutions would provide impetus for others.

Stating that in last three and half years he had visited more than 100 institutions, where he emphasised on the need to improve international rankings of Indian institutions of higher education, The President said there was no lack of merit on the part of our higher learning institutions, however, they need to promote themselves better.

President Mukherjee conferred Honrary Doctor of Literature (D.Lit) on former union minster Yashwant Sinha by the Vinoba Bhave University for his significant contributions in the field of economy, international relations and public services.