Delhi University (DU) Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh was bid farewell on Thursday at Delhi Technology University (DTU), from where he is as relieved as VC to take on his new role. He will join as DU VC on Friday.
In his speech, Singh thanked many people, including current and former L-Gs Anil Baijal and Najeeb Jung, as well as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. He said they were all vital to the university.
“When I came to the DTU, I was told by the government that I would be sent for three months. I have now been here for six years and 14 days … It has been the most pleasant trip in the last six years and 14 days. I have to do and learn something new every day. Positions are not important in life … what is important, what you contribute when you are in this position. How much happiness you bring into other people’s lives, how much change you make – that’s important, ”he said.
Singh said he entered the university with no worries and will leave it again. “When I joined, all counters were zero. Now that I’m going I’m going to reset the counters again. What i want to say is if i hurt someone please forgive me. Even those who hurt me, I forget all that today. Let’s leave it all behind, ”he said.
Singh said he saw the dream for the DTU to be in the top 200 in the institutional ranking. “I think we can do that in the next five years if we keep the current pace,” he said.
Singh said there was also a need to rethink the quantity versus quality debate. “There is always a fear that when quantity increases, quality will decrease, especially in academia … But this is a country of 135 million people. We need quality and quantity. And at the DTU we experimented and increased from 8,000 to 14,000-15,000 students. But our rankings and research quotes have improved anyway, ”he said.
Many colleagues and V-Cs from institutes such as Netaji Subhash University of Technology, Ambedkar University Delhi and Indira Gandhi Delhi Technological University for Women shared their experiences and memories of Singh.
Before saying goodbye, Singh inaugurated the Digital Archive (Central Record Room) on campus on Thursday.
He said the DTU’s Hi-Tech Record Room was the first of its kind in Delhi State government universities.
“The Vice Chancellor said that the files in this filing room are also digitally recorded. This record room is completely fireproof, so the files kept on the shelves will not be damaged by fire. The digital file will aid in accessing the old files on the desks of the officers’ authorized officers. It used to be a difficult task to find out the old records, but now an authorized person can access the records with a click of the mouse, “the DTU said in a statement.