Mumbai, Oct. 29 -- State governor Acharya Devvrat on Thursday for the first time interacted with vice chancellors of 24 universities across the state. Through a video conference, he urged them to go beyond 'conventional education' centred around curriculums and examinations, and instead focus on skill development, entrepreneurship, and nation-building. Devvrat, who took office as the governor of Maharashtra on September 15, issued a set of key directives to all non-agricultural universities, stressing the need for greater accountability and transparency. He instructed universities to submit a quarterly progress report to the Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor, outlining the achievements and challenges they face. "This report will help track institutional progress and ensure that universities remain aligned with state and national education goals," he added. Pointing out the declining performance of the state's universities in national rankings, the Governor said, "Maharashtra has long been an educationally advanced state, but the recent slide in rankings amid growing competition is a concern. Universities must take this as a wake-up call and work on quality improvement." Devvrat also directed institutions to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and strengthen university-school collaboration through the 'School Connect Programme' (SCP). Through the SCP, an initiative that provides high school students with career experiences through online courses and helps them explore potential academic and career paths, Devvrat said state universities could also increase student enrollment in higher education. The governor highlighted the importance of sports in shaping responsible citizens. "If the youth do not go to playgrounds and channel their energy through sports, that energy will find a wrong outlet," he said, instructing universities to maintain playgrounds and report data about student participation in sports within three months....