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Port Louis (Mauritius) Apr 28 (ANI): Asserting that India has always been willing to share its experience with all other developing countries, particularly traditionally close friends like Mauritius, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Thursday said that interaction between academic institutions of the developing world is an important aspect of their partnership.

Speaking after receiving the honorary doctorate in civil law here, President Patil said: “Education is an important dimension of our bilateral relations, but I would like to encourage greater co-operation in this field.”

She said: “I am told that over 100 scholarships are given annually to Mauritian students to pursue studies in various streams in India. Additionally, many more students enroll themselves into Indian Universities on a self-financing basis.”

“With management and business institutions also coming in, the circle of quality institutes of engineering, medicine and management, all working hand in hand with their Mauritian counterparts, would auger well for the development of educational linkages between the two countries,” she added.

Emphasising that the youth are the pillars of future development, President Patil said: “I believe that the youth of our two countries must interact with each other, not only because of many commonalities that we have, but also because the bridges of friendship built by our leaders, must continue into the future with vigour.”

Highlighting that a university is home to scholars, academicians, and scientists, who contribute to the progress of societies and nations, President Patil said: “A university is also home for students, whose ideas and work will be the determinants of the future. It is here that the minds of the youth are moulded, new ideas are born, and the contours of an emerging society shaped.”

“As a society transforms, the education system must respond to change. It is only then that it will be relevant. Our institutions of higher learning must gear up for facing challenges of a knowledge based and technology driven world. It will be nations with high quality human resources, which will be counted amongst the front ranking nations of the world in the knowledge era,” she added.

Emphasizing that in India, since ancient times there has been a great emphasis on learning, President Patil said: “This tradition got translated into a vision, where establishing an educational infrastructure become a priority in our nation building process in the post-independent phase.

“It was due to the strength in our education system, with emphasis on science and technology that India has been able to assume a leadership role in information technology, and other knowledge based sectors. We continue to lay great emphasis on education,” she added. (ANI)