CHENNAI: Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on Friday said that rapid technological advances, such as Artificial Intelligence, would bring about transformational changes in the coming years, stressing that earning a degree alone would no longer be sufficient in an era of intense global competition. Students, he said, must update their knowledge every single day to remain relevant.
Addressing the 34th convocation of the Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute at Velappanchavadi here, the Vice-President drew a parallel between life and nature. "Just as the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening, success and failure alternate like day and night. One cannot expect only victories," he said, urging graduates not to lose heart in the face of setbacks, as failures often offer more profound life lessons than success.
Calling the convocation a milestone in the university's long journey, Radhakrishnan said it marked a new beginning for students.
Highlighting the impact of AI, he said technology-driven changes in the future would be as stark as the difference between day and night. "Change is the only constant, and scientific knowledge must be continuously renewed, " he added.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India emerging as the world's leading economic power by 2047, the Vice-President said the country was on track to become the world's third-largest economy soon. "Looking at today's graduates, I am confident India will achieve global leadership in many sectors even before 2047," he said.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian participated in the event and said that Tamil Nadu had the highest number of government medical colleges in India, with 36 institutions, and a total of 76 medical colleges, including private ones. The State offers 14,250 medical seats across general and dental medicine and has earned international recognition, including a UN award, for its doorstep healthcare services for non-communicable diseases, Subramanian said.
Meanwhile, LK Sudhish, DMDK treasurer and film producer, attended the convocation as his elder daughter Jannu Shree received her postgraduate degree in obstetrics and gynaecology (MS OG) from ACS Medical College at the hands of the Vice-President.
More than 5,500 students graduated at the ceremony. As a symbolic gesture, the Vice-President presented degrees to over 20 toppers from various disciplines, including general medicine.
Chancellor AC Shanmugam, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran and other dignitaries attended the event.