Lok Bhavan Hosts Conference on Challenges of Border-Area Colleges in Punjab

Chandigarh, December 29

A one-day conference on “Challenges Being Faced by Colleges Situated in Border Areas of Punjab” was held today at Lok Bhavan, Punjab, Chandigarh. The event brought together Vice-Chancellors of all universities in Punjab and principals of colleges located in the state’s border districts. The conference was presided over by the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria.

Addressing the gathering, the Governor highlighted the pivotal role of higher education institutions in border areas in strengthening national integration and fostering social development. He underscored the importance of promoting girls’ education in these regions, noting that “empowering girls through quality education is vital for social progress and long-term stability.”

Shri Kataria urged universities to adopt and mentor border-area colleges to help upgrade academics, enhance faculty skills, and expand access to digital and contemporary courses. He also encouraged universities to establish campuses or extension centres in border districts to make quality higher education more accessible to local youth.

The conference featured detailed deliberations on the unique challenges faced by border-area institutions — including issues related to academic infrastructure, faculty capacity building, research promotion, and student welfare.

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The programme began with an introductory session by Professor Jaspal Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor of Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar. Professor Ashwani Bhalla, Former Deputy Director, Higher Education, Punjab, presented a comprehensive address on the problems and potential solutions for colleges in border districts, focusing on accreditation, infrastructure, and policy support.

Dr. Sunita Siwach, Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC), briefed participants on UGC scholarship schemes and financial opportunities available for students and colleges in these regions. Presentations on the New Education Policy (NEP) and outreach initiatives were shared by representatives from IIT Ropar, PEC University of Technology Chandigarh, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) Faridkot, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology Patiala, and Rayat Bahra University Mohali.

A special address by Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Adviser and distinguished visiting Professor at IIT Roorkee, focused on “From Basic Research to Market Deployment: The Changing Priorities of India’s STI Ecosystem” and “The Art of Writing and Winning Research Proposals.” He emphasized the growing importance of innovation and research culture in higher education.

The conference concluded with an exclusive session on NAAC-related issues, led by Professor Ashwani Bhalla, highlighting pathways to quality enhancement and accreditation readiness. The event served as a vital platform for policy dialogue, collaboration, and strategy formulation to enhance inclusive and quality higher education across Punjab’s border regions.