Mysuru: “Colleges should equip students with employable skills and make them job worthy,” said Prof. S.N. Hegde, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore.

He was delivering the valedictory address of the Student Parliament, Prathibha Puraskar and farewell function to Final Year Students at SBRR Mahajana First Grade College here recently.

Addressing the gathering of students and teachers on two issues — What is a college? and What it is to be a graduate? Prof. Hegde said that colleges should not produce clones as each student is different.

He added that there is a need to identify their talent to help them develop through post scholastic activities.

He said that faculty should create a thirst for knowledge and quest for reasoning in students and added that a student should discover himself/herself in college, identify their interests and develop two elements — degree of competence and level of confidence that lead to performance. He called upon the students to develop both professional and soft skills and said “Unemployability is a critical factor, not lack of jobs.”

Presiding over the valedictory programme, Shivani Tholasi who was selected as the ‘Best Parliamentarian’ acknowledged the opportunities the college provided for her overall development. Vinay of final year B.Com was felicitated as the ‘Best Volunteer.’ Students who excelled in academics, sports and winners of various endowment prizes were felicitated on the occasion as part of Prathibha Puraskar.

Seniors faculty members Dr. K.R. Gayathri, Dr. Thimmegowda gave farewell messages to the outgoing students. President of Mahajana Education Society R. Vasudeva Murthy and Secretary Dr. Vijayalakshmi Muralidhar along with Principal Dr. S. Venkataramu, wished the students on the occasion. CEO and Academic Advisor Dr. S.R. Ramesh graced the occasion.

Earlier, students Bhoomika and Bharath presented the annual report of both the college and Talents Forum. The valedictory function concluded with cultural programmes.