President Droupadi Murmu, during her three-nation tour, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science from Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University in Algiers on October 14.
Expressing her gratitude at the event, Murmu said, "It is indeed a humbling experience for me to be honored with this Doctorate. This recognition is more for my country than for me personally." She highlighted the value of interacting with students and said, "It’s always a pleasure to address young minds in universities filled with confidence and dedication to pursuing knowledge that impacts national development."
Algeria’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kamal Baddari, presented the award to President Murmu.
During her speech, Murmu emphasized India’s commitment to offering quality education at affordable rates, especially for African students, including those from Algeria. "We provide numerous scholarships and fellowships for African students. I encourage Algeria's educational institutions and government to take advantage of these initiatives by the Government of India," she said.
Murmu also stressed the importance of education in reducing inequality and promoting equal opportunities. She invited Algerian students to engage with India’s ITEC program and other scholarship offerings. "ITEC alumni have achieved great success in their respective countries. Many have become ministers, senior diplomats, government officials, and entrepreneurs," she said.
In addition, Murmu discussed India’s advancements in technology, particularly the role of women in the country’s economic progress. "India’s digital transformation, which is unprecedented globally, has boosted women’s participation in the workforce. About 36% of the 4.4 million professionals in our IT sector are women," she said.
The President also praised the progress made in space exploration and scientific advancements, while noting Algeria’s interest in collaborating with India on digital payment systems. "I am happy to see Algeria’s enthusiasm for dialogue on digitalizing retail payments," she added, mentioning India’s Gaganyaan mission, which plans to send Indian astronauts into space next year.
Highlighting education, Murmu mentioned India's significant growth in this area. "India now has one of the largest higher education systems globally, with over 58,000 institutions and more than 43 million students enrolled. In the past decade alone, we’ve established nearly 400 new universities and 5,300 new colleges," she said.
Murmu also spoke about India's New Education Policy and its potential for international collaboration. "Our New National Education Policy of 2020 aims to transform the education system at all levels. It opens new pathways for partnerships with foreign institutions. Through our Indian Technical and Educational Programme, 31,000 Africans and 155 Algerians have already benefited," she said.
Reflecting on her own journey, Murmu shared her pride in being the first woman from her village to graduate from college. "A passion for education and empowerment has driven me throughout my life," she said.
Murmu concluded by reaffirming the deep historical ties between India and Algeria, stating, "India-Algeria relations go back to the days of Algeria’s liberation struggle against colonization." She expressed confidence that the youth of both nations would continue to strengthen these ties in the future.
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