Sambalpur: Governor and Sambalpur University chancellor S.C. Jamir on Saturday underscored the need for higher quality education at the university level.

"Although there has been phenomenal growth of higher education in India, it is unfortunate that Indian universities draw a blank in the rating of the world's top 100 educational institutions," he said at the 28th convocation of Sambalpur University here.

"Our institutions lack in quality teaching. This is evident from the huge pool of educated persons, who are unemployable. This, in turn, points to the standard of teaching and lack of employable skills in our graduates," Jamir said.

The chancellor said not enough world-class research was being carried out in India.

"It is time to consider that if we aim to dominate global discourse, we need universities that not only create skilled human resources, but also encourage indigenous research and development and instil scientific thinking and a spirit of enquiry among students," he said.

Jamir said: "Research is a never-ending journey of growth. It enables one to articulate the new knowledge with clarity and lucidity. We have to improve the infrastructure necessary for research."

He urged the universities and institutes in Odisha to become the habitats for the start-up ecosystem, encouraging students and researchers for technological and commercial ventures, facilitating their link-ups with the government agencies and incubators.

Odisha Skill Development Authority chairman Subroto Bagchi urged those graduating to look at themselves as students of leadership. He said: "You may become great leaders and followers and may you find leadership lessons in people, big and small. May you be inspired, every step of the way and may you be an inspiration to others."

The varsity presented the Gangadhar National Award for Poetry 2016 to Telugu poet K. Siva Reddy, who had received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990.