Minister urges VCs to revive students’ interest in humanities, social sciences

Patna: Expressing concern over students’ declining interest in humanities and social sciences, higher education minister Sunil Kumar on Monday urged vice-chancellors and academics to take steps to attract talent towards courses that nurture culture, civilization, and socio-economic development.

Speaking at the East Zone vice-chancellors’ conference organised by the Association of Indian Universities at Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU), he stressed the need for curriculum reforms integrating humanities with science and technology, alongside leveraging AI and digital tools. Governor-cum-chancellor Arif Mohammad Khan inaugurated the event, which saw participation from VCs of 75 universities across 12 states. AIU’s president Vinay Kumar Pathak presided over the function.


“Most bright boys and girls are pursuing only science and technical courses at the higher education institutions now a days, having very little interest in languages, philosophy, fine arts, and social science subjects. This is very unfortunate and against the interest of national development. Unless the youths study the culture and history of their society, they will not develop their sensitivity,” the minister said.

He said the curriculum should be so devised that even students of science, engineering and medicine study some humanity or social science subjects along with their own subjects. The syllabi may be improved with the help of AI and digital technologies, he added.

Kumar further said that higher education has made significant strides in Bihar during the last two decades under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar. “The annual budget of higher education has been raised from Rs 4,000 crore in 2005 to Rs 70,000 crore in 2025. The number of conventional universities has increased from five to 15 during the period and there has been consequent increase in the number of colleges and students. The universities are being encouraged to introduce modern courses in the larger interest of students. Moreover, higher education has been made a separate department to ensure its better management,” he said.

The governor, in his inaugural address, appealed to the VCs to introduce innovative courses as per the needs of the fast changing world and prepare students to face the challenges of the future. He said the real purpose of education is to ensure self-improvement of human beings and free them of all their prejudices and biases. The governor also released a postage stamp marking centenary celebrations of AIU.

Khan said the university named after ancient mathematician and astronomer Aryabhatta has special responsibility towards the society and, hence, it must strive for innovations and research.

Rural works minister Ashok Kumar Chaudhary said that higher education should not remain confined to classrooms but it should be linked to the rural development. Higher education must serve as an instrument of social change, he said.

AIU’s secretary general Pankaj Mittal, in her introductory remarks, pointed out that as many as the VCs of 75 universities from 12 states in the eastern region are attending the conference being held for the first time in Bihar. AKU vice-chancellor Sharad Kumar Yadav welcomed the delegates.

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