Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan said engineering institutions must nurture innovators and nation-builders who possess strong ethical values [1].
The address emphasizes the necessity of balancing rapid technical advancement with a moral framework to ensure that scientific progress benefits society as a whole. As India pursues ambitious development goals, the role of the technical educator is shifting from purely academic instruction to the cultivation of civic responsibility.
Speaking May 29, 2024 [2], Radhakrishnan attended the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of UBDT College of Engineering in Davangere, Karnataka [1]. He said that the contributions of engineers, scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs are critical to achieving the nation's growth targets [1].
During the event, the Vice President highlighted the relationship between technical skill and social utility. He said, "Technology must serve humanity" [2]. This directive suggests that the measurement of success for modern engineering should not be limited to efficiency or profit, but by the positive impact on human life.
Radhakrishnan noted that the responsibility of educational institutions extends beyond the classroom. He said, "Engineering institutions must nurture innovators, nation builders with ethical values" [1]. By integrating ethics into the core of technical curricula, the Vice President said that India can produce professionals capable of leading the country toward a sustainable and equitable future.
The call for ethical innovation comes as the global landscape faces challenges from automation and artificial intelligence. The Vice President's remarks underscore a national priority to ensure that the next generation of technical leaders remains grounded in human-centric values [1].
“Technology must serve humanity.”
This emphasis on 'ethical values' within technical education reflects a broader strategic effort by the Indian government to align its STEM pipeline with national development goals. By framing engineers as 'nation builders,' the administration is attempting to pivot the focus of technical universities from producing global labor for export to developing homegrown solutions that address domestic societal challenges.
