Chairing the 80th meeting of the University Council of the University of Jammu here at the Raj Bhavan today, Governor, N.N. Vohra, Chancellor of the University of Jammu, stressed the importance of spreading opportunities for higher education but equally important, also ensuring that the education imparted is of high standard. Governor and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Pro Chancellor of the University, stressed the need for ensuring that the subjects to be taught at the main and off-site campuses of the universities are relevant and have the potential of opening up new opportunities for the all round development of the area.Governor observed that the teaching faculties of the university campuses should be also concerned about dealing with the deficiencies among the faculties of the colleges and higher secondary schools and evolve approaches for establishing linkages with the teachers and their institutional programmes.Both the Chancellor and the Pro Chancellor felt the need for critically reviewing the current relevance of the ongoing programmes vis-à-vis demands of the emerging job markets. The Chancellor urged Prof. R.D Sharma, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu and Prof. Khurshid Andrabi, Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, to make it a continuous phenomenon so that the not so relevant courses are suitably modified and new courses introduced to meet the employment market. They advised the universities to keep dynamic watch over the courses sought by J&K students in universities outside the State so that the same could be considered for being introduced in the J&K universities.
The Chancellor, Pro Chancellor and Mr. Naeem Akhter, Minister for Education, urged both the VCs to identify niche areas and strengthen those study fields and elevate their research standards to add value and raise the standing of the universities all over the country.The Council also discussed the functioning of the off-site campuses and urged Prof. Sharma to critically review their academic functioning. The Education Minister suggested introduction of under-graduate integrated courses in the off-site campuses of the Universities.The Chancellor stressed giving boost to the sports activities in the universities and urged the VCs to organize tournaments involving the higher education institutions in the whole state. He advised the VCs to draw an annual sports calendar and give due attention to promoting sports facilities in the universities.While reviewing the upcoming infrastructure in the University, the Governor stressed introduction of rain water harvesting and solar power generation facilities. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining discipline and decorum in the institutions of learning.
Congratulating the Jammu University on securing the 64th rank out of 233 universities under the National Institutional Ranking Framework, the Governor exhorted the Vice Chancellor to improve on parameters in which university had low scores and secure higher ranking next year.The Council ratified the guidelines for conducting written examination for Persons with Disabilities issued by the Department of Disability Affairs, Government of India. A person who has 40 % or more disability shall be allowed the facility of Scribe/Reader/Lab Assistant and other required support if he so wanted.The Council approved the proposed introduction of short term courses in various departments and affiliated colleges of the University.The Council also approved proposal for admission of foreign students in the University of Jammu without appearance in the Entrance Test (JUET).Prof. Sharma while making a presentation on initiatives and achievements of the University, informed that 11 research projects involving an investment of Rs. 2 crore had been sanctioned to the University from October 2015 till date and presently there are 58 ongoing research projects. 36 placements had been made through Placement Cell of the University since Oct, 2015 in various companies under UDAAN and 1688 students had joined work during this period.Informing the Council about initiatives taken in improving the Examination system, Prof. Sharma said that the University has introduced online pre-filled and auto generated examination forms for under graduate students and an MoU is being drawn up for online depositing of fees.
Also present in the meeting wereProf. Vinayshil Gautam, former Director IIT; Prof. V.K Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal; Prof. Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University; Mr. B.B. Vyas, Financial commissioner Planning and Development; Mr. P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, Commissioner Finance; Mr. Hemant Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Department; Dean Faculty of Business Studies, JU; Prof Rajni Dhingra, Dean Faculty of Sciences, JU; Prof. Kiran Bakshi, Principal, Govt. College for Women, Ganhdhi Nagar; Prof. J.P Singh Joorel, President, Jammu University Teachers Association; Dr. Sanjay Verma, President, College Teachers Association, Jammu Wing; and Prof. Keshav Sharma, Registrar, Jammu University.