SKUAST-K becomes 1st agri university to adopt ICAR-6th Dean Committee Curriculum

Srinagar, Sep 30: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) became the first agricultural university to adopt the ICAR-6th Dean Committee Curriculum on Monday.

A statement of SKUAST-K issued here said the SKUAST-K conducted its 44th Academic Council meeting with Deputy Director General, Education, ICAR, New Delhi R C Aggarwal as the chief guest.

The important statutory meeting of the University, the Academic Council meeting is held twice a year to discuss and deliberate on the academic landscape of the University, approve the institution of new academic programme, create new departments and schools and update the curriculum as per the changing requirements.

Deans, Directors of the university, and heads of subject matter divisions attended the meeting. The academicians from sister Universities including Kashmir University, SMVDU, CUK, BGSBU and SKUAST-Jammu and Cluster University Kashmir participated in the meeting and appreciated the trajectory of progress achieved by SKUAST-K.

HImanshu Palel, an Indian industrialist based in Mozambique appreciated the university’s globalisation efforts and offered his good offices to create university outreaches in Mozambique and Africa.

Five publications SKUAST-K Model of Education Becomes National Model, SKUASTians Overseas, Profile of SKIIE Centre, SKUAST-K IP Suite, and SKUAST-K, Innopedia, were released during the meeting.

The ICAR 6th Deans Committee’s report on orienting agri-education to NEP-2020 was adopted and SKUAST-K became the first Agriculture University to adopt the 6th Deans Committees course curriculum. Several new UG, PG and PhD courses were instituted.

Controller Examination, Prof Naveed Qaisar, Deans and Associate Deans and faculty coordinators were felicitated for the successful conduct of the paperless examination.

Deputy Director General, Education, ICAR in his address complimented the university for contributing to the development of the 6th Deans Committee report on remodeling Agricultural Education towards NEP-2020 and expressed satisfaction that SKUAST-K became the first university to adopt it.

He emphasised the need to infuse new technology-leading methodologies and introduce short-duration certificate and diploma courses along with ongoing degree programmes in agriculture and allied sectors. He also outlined the need for the internationalisation of agricultural education and the introduction of new-age courses like Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and precise agriculture in the agricultural curriculum.

The Vice-Chancellor in his remarks while expressing satisfaction on the realisation of the goals previously set forth by the university laid a new road map for the university to be the global and national leader to make J&K a model of Viksit Bharat-2047.

Registrar, Prof T H Masoodi welcomed the guests, gave an overview of the university’s academic achievements and presented the agenda items before the house for discussion.