12 VCs meet at Osmania University to discuss Telangana’s education roadmap

Hyderabad: In a step towards shaping the future of higher education in Telangana, vice-chancellors from 12 universities convened at the Distance Education Centre of Osmania University on Saturday.

The meeting focused on aligning university goals with the State’s education vision and developing a cohesive strategy to enhance academic infrastructure, governance and digital integration across campuses.

Policy push for academic transformation

Addressing the gathering, K Keshava Rao, advisor to the chief minister, emphasised the urgent need for systemic reform in higher education. “The development of the education system is a symbol of societal progress,” he said, calling for vice-chancellors to lead by example.

He urged them to optimise human resources, remove bureaucratic obstacles and foster collaboration among institutions to position Telangana as a frontrunner in the national education landscape. Rao particularly stressed the role of digital education in improving accessibility and reach.

A trillion-dollar vision for Telangana

Dr Yogita Rana, IAS, secretary of Education, delivered the inaugural address, reiterating the chief minister’s vision of making Telangana a national education leader.

She noted, “Education is pivotal to achieving Telangana’s trillion-dollar economy goal,” adding that improved pedagogy and digital integration are essential to achieving academic and economic outcomes.

Dr Rana assured the gathering of the government’s full support.

“We are committed to providing all necessary resources to ensure that students from Telangana excel at the national level,” she said. She also highlighted the government’s focused efforts to restore the historic prestige of Osmania and Kakatiya Universities.

Osmania’s readiness for NAAC and rankings

Hosting the event, Professor Kumar Molugaram, vice-chancellor of Osmania University, stated that Osmania was fully prepared for NAAC accreditation. He noted that the university’s Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) had completed all preparatory work, and he expressed confidence in OU’s performance in upcoming international rankings.

“We are grateful to chief minister A Revanth Reddy for responding positively to our budget proposals. The current review of higher education is a clear signal of the government’s commitment to academic progress,” said Prof. Molugaram.

Administrative support and infrastructure planning

Sridevasena, IAS, commissioner of Collegiate Education, encouraged vice-chancellors to submit well-detailed proposals for infrastructure and laboratory development. She emphasised the importance of clear Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and maintaining regular communication with senior officials for timely execution.

Sharing a personal connection, she said, “My father was a professor at Osmania University. We instituted a gold medal in his name here, and it is always a matter of pride to return to this campus.”

Collaboration and quality focus

Professor Balakista Reddy, chairman of the Telangana State Council of Higher Education, urged institutions to ensure the consistent delivery of quality education.

He emphasised collaboration with industries and other universities as critical to future growth. “The strategies we develop going forward will be grounded in the insights and proposals presented by our vice-chancellors today,” he said.

Institutional presentations and roadmaps

Each participating university presented a PowerPoint briefing, detailing their progress in areas like NAAC readiness, infrastructure expansion, budgetary requirements, ongoing challenges, and future academic plans. These presentations will be used as a foundation for the Telangana government’s broader education development strategy.