J&K LG extends tenure of SKUAST-Kashmir Vice Chancellor by two years

Srinagar, Dec 13: The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, who also serves as the Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, has extended the tenure of Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai for a period of two years.

An order, issued by LG, said: "In exercise of the powers vested in me under Section 25 (2) of the Sher-I-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Act, 1982, I, Manoj Sinha, Chancellor, Sher-I-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, hereby extend the tenure of Prof. Nazir Ganaie, Vice Chancellor, Sher-I-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, for a period of two (02) years w.e.f. 16.12.2024, the date of completion of his existing term as the Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Kashmir."

The mood at SKUAST-K was jubilant, with the university taking on a festive look as teaching, non-teaching staff, and students broke into celebrations upon hearing the news of the extension, said a varsity spokesman.

He said Prof Ganai thanked Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and his team and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his team for reposing trust in his leadership, which highlights a shared commitment to advancing education, research and innovation for improving the quality of the life of the people.

He said now is the time to position SKUAST-K as a leading global institution of excellence.

Born in 1965, Prof Ganai is the brain behind various policy initiatives in the agriculture landscape of J&K, including the 5012-crore Holistic Agricultural Development Program (HADP).

He was also behind getting SKUAST-K prestigious Rs 30 Crore World Bank ICAR-funded project (NAHEP).

SKUAST-K’s project NAHEP was later declared a case study by the World Bank for its its efficient deliverance and vision.

Another prominent initiative taken by Prof Ganai was the internationalisation of education at SKUAST-K.

The International Education Fair organised under the initiative was praised by none other than External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.

During his tenure, SKUAST-K introduced a number of new age courses including BTech AI in Agriculture, BSc Microbiology, BSc Economics and Data Science, besides establishing full-fledged Incubation Centre and AI&ML Centre.

The university, besides the main academics, focused on transdisciplinary and translational research, innovative extension approaches and sill development of the youth.

With more than 30 years of experience in teaching, research and extension and 11 years experience as Professor, Dr Ganai has done PhD in Genetics and Breeding from National Dairy Research Institute Karnal.

He has also done post-doctorate from Wageningen University of Research (WUR), Netherlands. Ganai has been Director of Planning and Monitoring for about four years and he has also held a number of administrative positions at SKUAST-K earlier.

He got a joint fellowship on academic leadership by IIT Roorke/ Michigan University USA in Nov-Dec 2018 and Durham International Fellowship for Research and Enterprise Durham University, UK October-December 2016.

He also got a visiting Fellowship from Wisconsin State University USA in June 2012 and Erasmus Mundus Fellowship of European Union at Wageningen University Netherlands January-March 2009.

As a teacher, researcher and administrator, Prof Nazir has acquired the knowledge and experiences to shape the vision of the SKUAST-K which will help it to transform the power of the graduate students into the wealth of skilled, knowledgeable, next-gen leaders, with a changed mind-set for creativity and innovation, added the spokesman, in a written statement.