Chennai, Feb 26 (IANS): Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said universities should promote University Social Responsibility (USR) similar to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Speaking at the 28th Convocation of Pondicherry University, Naidu said students should be encouraged to do some social service so that they can be a responsible citizens.

Naidu also urged the students to develop a positive attitude and be socially relevant while asking them to focus on their academics and enhance their knowledge for advancement of their career.

He said universities must be connected with social life of the people and not be like the proverbial ivory towers.

According to him, the curriculum must be reoriented to allow the student to spend half the time in the classroom and the remaining time in the field to have a firsthand understanding of the living conditions of the people in rural areas.

Naidu also said the education system should be reoriented to match the needs of the 21st century and at the same time wanted it to be rooted in Indian values and ethics.

The Vice President urged all institutions such as the Pondicherry University, to give equal importance to all the four pillars of learning suggested by UNESCO such as learning to know, learning to do, learning to be and learning to live together.

Lt. Governor of Union Territory of Puducherry & the Chief Rector of Pondicherry University, Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister of Puducherry V. Narayanasamy and others were present at the event.