In a first-of-its-kind initiative to strengthen higher education in Tripura, the state government on Wednesday organised a **”Higher Education Dialogue”** at the **Sonar Tori State Guest House** in Agartala, providing students with a direct platform to interact with policymakers and contribute to shaping the future of higher education in the state.
The programme was chaired by **Higher Education Minister Kishore Barman** and attended by **Director of Higher Education Animesh Debbarma**, along with student representatives from colleges across Tripura. The initiative aimed to gather constructive suggestions from students on improving the quality, accessibility and relevance of higher education.
Addressing the participants, Minister Barman described the event as a **historic initiative**, noting that it was the first time the government had organised a dedicated forum where students could openly share their views, concerns and recommendations on higher education.
“This is not merely a government meeting. It is a platform for free and open interaction where students will speak and the government will listen carefully. The future course of higher education will be guided by the ideas that emerge from these discussions,” he said.
The Minister stressed that a robust higher education system can only be built through the active participation of students, teachers, educational institutions and the government. He said constructive dialogue and consensus-based policymaking are essential to bringing meaningful reforms to the sector.
Referring to the vision of **Viksit Bharat 2047**, Barman said colleges in Tripura should evolve into centres of innovation, skill development and nation-building rather than functioning solely as degree-awarding institutions. He emphasised the need to improve academic standards, create a positive learning environment and encourage greater student participation in higher education.
During the interactive session, students raised several important issues, including challenges faced by colleges, improving the quality of education, promoting skill-based and employment-oriented courses, and transforming educational institutions into model colleges. Participants also discussed ways to increase higher education enrolment by **50 per cent by 2030**, strengthen career-oriented academic programmes and promote the values of nationalism, patriotism and responsible citizenship on college campuses.
Minister Barman assured participants that the valuable suggestions received during the dialogue would be considered while framing future education policies. He also announced that similar consultations with teachers, educationists and other stakeholders would be organised in the coming months as part of the government’s vision to develop **Tripura into a leading education hub**.
