LG urges KU to focus on employability

Srinagar, Dec 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday urged the University of Kashmir to focus on employability.

Chairing the 84th Meeting of the University Council of the University of Kashmir (KU), at Lok Bhavan, Srinagar, LG Sinha, who is also the Chancellor of KU, stressed that the KU must focus on innovation, employability, and entrepreneurship, while ensuring that academic initiatives respond to local and regional developmental needs.

He emphasised the need to introduce contemporary, interdisciplinary, and skill-oriented academic programmes aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP-2020).

The LG also advised KU to strengthen integrated and professional programmes to meet emerging academic and industry requirements.

The University Council, which met under the chairmanship of the LG, accorded in-principle approval to several important academic and administrative agenda items.

These included the adoption of a revised policy mechanism for admission of foreign national (international) students; change of nomenclature of the Department of Earth Sciences to the Department of Geology; and the introduction of five-year integrated master’s programmes in Applied Geology, Tourism and Travel Management, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Home Science.

The University Council also considered and approved the Programme Project Report (PPR) for MA History to be offered through the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE).

Approval was accorded to the extension of merit and merit-cum-means scholarship schemes to students enrolled in five-year integrated programmes.

Further, the council approved the regulations governing five-year integrated programmes, including FYIMP in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and discussed the recommendations of the Deans’ Committee regarding the adoption of statutes governing the PhD programme.

The University Council also approved proposals relating to modifications in statutes governing Undergraduate Programmes (UGP-2022) with respect to nomenclature of degrees under NEP-2020, and the adoption of standardised formats for certificates, diplomas, and degrees. Additionally, the University Council approved the proposal for the introduction of a two-year Diploma in Calligraphy as a Joint Academic Programme between the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, KU, and the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages, Srinagar.

The University Council also accorded in-principle approval to key academic proposals under the agenda on consideration of academic matters.

These included the establishment of an Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences at the varsity's Kupwara campus; the introduction of a diploma programme in Criminal Justice through the CDOE; and the introduction of a five-year integrated master’s programme at the Media Education Research Centre (MERC).

Further, the University Council approved proposals for the introduction of five-year integrated master’s programmes in several languages and humanities disciplines.

These included FYIMP in Hindi, Linguistics and English Language Teaching, Persian, Sanskrit, and Kashmiri, as proposed by the respective Heads of Departments.

The University Council noted that the introduction of these programmes would promote multilingual education, cultural preservation, and advanced studies in classical and regional languages.

The University Council held detailed deliberations on multiple academic, regulatory, and institutional matters, aimed at strengthening governance structures and enhancing the overall quality of teaching, learning, and research at KU.

Earlier, KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Nilofer Khan, presented the agenda items before the University Council for consideration and ratification.

She also briefed the University Council on the academic, research, and institutional achievements of KU.

On the occasion, KU inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siddharth University, Uttar Pradesh, for the promotion of academic collaboration for research and education.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah; Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof Umesh Rai; Vice Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof Muhammad Mobin; Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu, Prof K S Chandrasekar; Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu; Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Santosh D Vaidya; Principal Secretary to the LG, Mandeep Kumar Bhandari; Administrative Secretary, Planning Development and Monitoring Department, Ashish Chander; Vice-Chancellor, Siddharth University, Uttar Pradesh, Prof Kavita Shah; former Director and Professor (Chemical Engineering), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, Prof A S K Sinha; Registrar KU and Secretary to the University Council, Prof Naseer Iqbal; Dean, School of Business Studies KU, Prof Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi, other University Council members and senior officials attended the meeting in person and through virtual mode.