CUK approves academic excellence initiatives at executive council meeting

Ganderbal, Dec 13: The Central University of Kashmir (CUK) held its 30th Executive Council (EC) meeting on Thursday at the Tulmulla Campus, under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof A Ravinder Nath.

In his opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ravinder Nath showcased the University's progress on academic, research, and administrative excellence. He expressed gratitude towards the Council members for their active participation and valuable insights, emphasising their pivotal role in shaping the institution's future.

The Vice-Chancellor also welcomed the distinguished Council members, including the newly inducted members, Prof Sandhya Tiwari, Dean School of Languages and Prof Farooq Ahmad Mir, Dean School of Legal Studies, CUKashmir.

The meeting was also attended by Prof Vandana Mishra, Centre of Comparative Politics & Political Theory, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi, Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, Chairman, JK BOSE, Prof Ajay Kumar Singh, Department of Commerce, School of Economics, University of Delhi, Dr Mriganka Sekhar Sarma, Deputy Secretary, UGC, Dr Rashmi Singh, Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education Department, J&K, Dr. Ravi Kumar Bharti, Additional Secretary, Higher Education Department, J&K, Prof Shahid Rasool, Dean Academic Affairs, and Prof M Afzal Zargar, Registrar (Secretary).

About the academic advancements, the Council acknowledged the University's proactive implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which earned it the prestigious designation as a hub university by the Ministry of Education (MoE) for NEP coordination among other universities. Approval was granted for comprehensive Institutional Development Plans in alignment with UGC guidelines and NEP objectives, focusing on academic, research, and outreach initiatives.

CUK's leadership in the Consortium of Higher Educational Institutions of North India (CHEINI) for sharing best practices was lauded, along with its nodal university status under the Bharatiya Bhasha Samvardhan Samiti for promoting Kashmiri language literature.

To foster multidisciplinary education, the plan to establish departments of Psychology, Vocational Studies, and Liberal Arts were approved, reflecting the University's commitment to multidisciplinary education and addressing contemporary academic demands.

The Council commended the successful and efficient completion of the recruitment process under the Mission Recruitment mode, with special provisions to ensure a seamless joining experience for outstation candidates. Rolling advertisements focusing on gender equity were also approved to continue expanding the University's talent pool.

A new policy was approved to enhance the research environment, enabling Postdoctoral Fellows, including Ramalingam Ramanuja and Inspire Fellows, to contribute beyond their fellowship terms, fostering innovation and academic growth.

Infrastructure and Transparency:

The members were informed about the submission of a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Master Plan Phase-I to the Ministry of Education, with fund approvals anticipated soon. The University's exemplary performance in RTI transparency audits was also recognised.

The Council approved several critical measures, including appointment of key non-teaching positions like Finance Officer and Librarian, adopting UGC’s latest regulations, and implementing employee-centric policies to boost institutional efficiency.

The meeting concluded with the Council expressing its appreciation for the visionary leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof Ravinder Nath and the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.