CUK: Path to excellence
The advent of online education has posed major existential challenges to conventional universities reliant on face-to-face transactions. The accessibility, flexibility, and lower cost of online education have disrupted the established higher education landscape, forcing each university to seriously re-assess its existing proposition. To stay viable and attract students physically to campus, it must push for compelling academics that distinguish its on-campus experience from its digital counterparts, which demands exploring novel student support services, pedagogical approaches, experiential learning opportunities, and showcasing the distinct advantages of the in-person interface to validate the investment in conventional, place-based learning.
To stay relevant, the Central University of Kashmir (CUK), under the visionary leadership of its Vice-Chancellor Professor A. Ravindranath, has implemented an inclusive approach comprising of Nine Best Practices (Nava Ratan) to augment CUK’s visibility and attracting a larger community, thereby solidifying its position as a pace-setting institution within the region.
CUK, being the first in the country, has implemented a ‘Credit-Based Fee Structure’ to enhance student flexibility and affordability. This initiative allows students to pay tuition fees only for the credits they pursue at CUK, offering a personalized and cost-effective approach to higher education. Besides recognizing the growing significance of blended learning envisaged by NEP-2020, CUK allows students to earn up to 40% of their total credits in a semester through online platforms without incurring any additional fees. The university has differentiated its fee structure based on the nature of the chosen course, categorizing as academic, vocational, professional, technical, and liberal and assigning tuition fees accordingly. Now, a student can assess the cost and the resources required for each distinct field of study in advance, promoting transparency and equitable access to a wide range of academic pursuits. This will also attract diverse students seeking micro-qualifications or digital badges without requiring them to commit to full degree programmes. Here students are allowed to boost their knowledge, skills, and competencies in specified areas of interest, expanding CUK's reach and establishing the university as a capital hub for professional development.
To broaden access and promote equity, CUK has executed a ‘Variable Tuition Fee Waiver’ as its second key best practice. This initiative offers tiered financial aid to students based on a combination of socio-economic background and academic merit. Specifically, 10% of students selected based on their income, background, and domiciles are eligible for a 100% tuition fee waiver. Besides, 20% of students receive a 50% waiver based on their financial need and academic performance. 10% of students are also granted a 25% waiver for their exceptional academic achievements. This guarantees that financial constraints must not hinder higher education while incentivizing academic excellence.
To foster financial support and responsible citizenship among its students, CUK has implemented the 'Earn While You Learn’ initiative as its third best practice. Aligned with the National Missions of Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (USA) and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), this initiative offers students practical work experience while contributing to socially relevant initiatives. Participating students can work up to 10 hours per week at a rate of Rs. 100 per hour; dedicating six hours to USA related assignments and four hours to SBA activities. Besides academics, the engagement allows students to earn up to Rs. 4,000 per month, offering valuable monetary support while instilling a sense of civic conscientiousness and promoting lively contributions to national development goals.
To foster a vibrant research ecosystem and contribute to the advancement of knowledge, CUK has undertaken ‘Research Initiatives’ as a core component of its vision and mission. The initiatives encompass several key elements: the formulation of a Comprehensive Research Policy to guide and support scholarly endeavours; the introduction of PhD Programmes tailored explicitly for executives in government and corporate sectors, as well as industry employees; the creation of dedicated Research Assistant Professor/Scientist positions to foster research capacity; the establishment of different Research Cells to facilitate and promote research activities across disciplines; and the creation of a Dedicated Research Corpus to provide financial support for scholarly projects.
CUK has carried out major ‘Academic Reforms’ centered on four pillars. These include a focus on Multidisciplinary and Holistic Education fostering interdisciplinary learning, implementation of an Outreach Mission Mandate, emphasizing community engagement and knowledge dissemination, Commitment to Skill Development and Employment, equipping students with practical skills relevant to the job market, and the Promotion of Digital Empowerment and Online Education, leveraging technology to enhance access to and delivery of educational content. These interconnected initiatives reflect its commitment to providing a contemporary and relevant academic experience that prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving world.
CUK is implementing comprehensive ‘Examination Reforms’ to enhance transparency, fairness, and efficiency. These reforms cover quite a few key initiatives: the introduction of Examination on Demand, providing students with greater flexibility in scheduling assessments for accelerated or extended degrees; the adoption of Computer-Based Assessment to streamline the examination process and enhance security; a shift towards Outcome-Based Examinations, aligning assessments with specific learning objectives; the implementation of a robust Moderation System to ensure consistency in grading; and the integration of E-Governance in Examinations, leveraging technology to manage all aspects of the examination. These integrated reforms reflect the university’s promise of continuously up-gradation in assessment practices and ensure a credible and reliable evaluation system.
To extend ‘Participation beyond the Campus’ and contribute to national development goals through community engagement, CUK has actively engaged in various key initiatives in alignment with the National Mission Mandate for Outreach. These include participation in Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan, focusing on enhancing the quality of higher education; Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, promoting hygiene and sanitation; Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, connecting higher education institutions with rural communities for development; and Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat, fostering cultural exchange and emotional understanding between different regions of the country.
To strengthen the governance framework and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, CUK has implemented ‘Governance Reform’ focused on modernization and efficiency. Initiatives in this regard include the Adoption of E-Governance and Automation to streamline administrative processes and enhance transparency; the Restructuring of Institutional Structures to optimize organizational effectiveness and decision-making; a focus on Capacity Building of Faculty to ensure professional development and to improve teaching and research expertise; implementation of robust Quality Assurance Mechanisms to monitor and improve academic standards; and the pursuit of greater Financial Autonomy to enable strategic resource allocation and sustainable development.
CUK has established ‘Supernumerary Seats’, augmenting its approved intake by up to 20% while applying a variable tuition fee structure. This initiative addresses two key needs: facilitating lateral entry for qualified students and accommodating potential shortfalls in enrollment under NRI/DASA/Foreign National admission provisions. By creating these additional seats, CUK maximizes its resource utilization and provides opportunities for a wider range of students, thereby contributing to broader inclusivity and educational access.
To conclude, demonstrating its commitment to adapting to the evolving higher education landscape and providing a high-quality, relevant educational experience in its first phase, CUK has promptly implemented ‘Nava Ratan Initiatives’ to stay relevant and justifying its regional leadership.
- MOHAMMAD SAYID BHAT is Associate Professor in Department of Education at Central University of Kashmir.
