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The government is planning to restructure the higher education sector by promoting research in academic institutions, said Education Minister C Raveendranath.

According to the minister, the purpose of education is not only to produce employees, but also to create researchers capable of brightening the future of society.

Education is the process of creating ideologies that would mould the future generation. The government has initiated the necessary steps to achieve this goal, said the minister after inaugurating a five-day workshop on Innovations in Research Awareness and a science festival organised by the department of physics at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) here on Sunday.

While learning is a continuous process, the education system should help students achieve the minimum goal of obtaining PHD after graduation. An atmosphere should be created for their ideas to blossom and ultimately lead to research. Sustainable development can be achieved only through research. Fundamental research activities should be encouraged as the output of contemporary research is dependant on funding, which is of no significance in social development, he said, and announced the government’s plan to institute the Kairali Research Award for the best research/researcher - worth around `75 lakh - in the 2017-18 academic year.

Candidates who excel in a particular subject will be considered for the award. A request has been forwarded to the Finance Minister for additional funding, said the minister, and urged universities in the state to publish science journals of international standard.

The function was presided over by former PWD Minister V K Ebrahimkunju. Cusat Pro-vice-chancellor Poulose Jacob, syndicate member M K Jayaraj and Cusat Physics HoD Junaid Bushiri also attended.