Varanasi — The 11th Tibetan college students' conference was held at the Central University for Tibetan Studies, originally called Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, in Sarnath, Varanasi, UP, India, from February 15, 2017. Over 101 students from 24 colleges and universities attended the seven-day conference.
The conference was held for three days, from 15th to 21st February 2017, during which, four major topics relating to status of education and politics in exile were discussed by the participants, who were the representatives of different Tibetan colleges and Institutes.
The opening ceremony of the conference started with lightening up of the butter lamp by the Chief guests, followed by other programs including singing of Tibetan national anthem, holding a minute of silence to pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives for the cause of Tibet.
Chief guests, Dr V.K. Shula- Director Institute of Medical Sciences Banaras Hindu University, H. B. Srivastava- Head of the Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi spoke where over hundred Tibetan college students were in attendance.
Prof Ngawang Samten- Director and Vice Chancellor of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, Varanasi, was among the Chief guests at the inauguration function, where he shared his thoughts with Tibetan students.
The resolution that discussed for the conference was about topics, roughly such as 'facility of specialists and their envision', the 'quality of teaching and learning in primary and high schools', new 'Higher Education policy', and 'whether the Tibetan Parliament in Exile should have representatives from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon,' along with question and answer session at the end of each discussions.
The last day of the conference concluded with presenting the account reports on income and expenditure and resolutions/outcomes of the conference. The annual conference focuses on education in exile, as well as political, social, and cultural related issues.
The one week conference also aims to discuss the role of Tibetan college students in strengthening and improving Tibetan Education. They also have the opportunity to submit their suggestions and concerns to the related CTA departments and institutions.
