Mysuru: The University of Mysore founded 102 years ago by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar has today attracted global attention. The founders had focused on ethics and values when they set up the institution of higher learning, said National Law School of India University (NLSUI) Vice-Chancellor Prof. R. Venkat Rao.

He was delivering the 102nd Foundation Day Lecture, on the topic “Importance of values and ethics in higher education,” organised by the University of Mysore, here yesterday at the Crawford Hall. He said that if children are taught from childhood the importance of values and ethics, they will grow into good human beings who will be an asset to the society.

“Every parent wants his or her child to make a difference to the society after finishing school and this is possible only with value-added education. Education is not only information but helps in one to become a complete human being,” he said.

According to Prof. Rao, 3Ms have been controlling human beings. If it was ‘muscle’ power that controlled man in the beginning of mankind, later it was money power and in the 21st Century it is the ‘mind’ power that controls.

A qualified person is measured by his integrity, honesty, ethics and values that he holds on to which will help him become a thorough professional, he said.

“We can be called a developed nation only when everyone develops. If this has to be achieved then the values and ethics have to be instilled in the youth. Looking at the youth today, there is no doubt they have great potential to take the country forward but to do this they have to be nurtured properly,” said Prof. Rao.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dayanand Mane regretted that corruption, which was confined to politics is now entering education field too. However, he recalled the contributions of the teaching and non-teaching staff in the development of the University in the last 100 years.

Registrar D. Bharathi and Registrar (Evaluation) Prof. G. Somashekar were present.