Governor N.N. Vohra, who is Chancellor of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), called for promotion of entrepreneurship by very early making the Technology Business Incubation Center (TBIC) fully functional. He was chairing the 25th meeting of the Executive Council of the University at Kakryal, Katra, today. The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India has sanction Rs. 18.14 crore for TBIC to be set up in SMVDU .The Chancellor also inspected the ongoing work of the Rs. 16.33 crore 306 bed Basholi Boys Hostel, and directed its time bound completion. He also inspected the site for construction of the additional 418 bed hostel for girls at an estimated cost of Rs. 36.25 crore.The Chancellor advised the Vice Chancellor to very early bring up a well considered Perspective Plan, keeping in view the University’s mandate to provide technical education of the highest standards.In this context the Governor decided to hold a special meeting of the Executive Council to discuss the Perspective Plan to be drawn up by the VC. He stressed that the University should continue to promote education, and research in the core technical areas which have high potential for excellence.The Council approved establishment of an Industrial Research & Development (IRD) section in SMVDU to provide a sharper focus on Research and Consultancy in the University and to streamline and strengthen the administrative and managerial processes involved.
VC informed the Council that in this Academic Session (2016-17) 554 students took admission in various disciplines offered by the University including the newly introduced M.Tech program in Renewal Energy; Permanent Affiliation has been accorded to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi College of Nursing; B.Sc. (Nursing) program has commenced in the current Academic Session (2016-17) and 60 students have been admitted to the program; the overall strength of students in the University has gone upto 1626 including 748 girls.VC informed the Council that with a view to facilitate overall development of students and foster sportsmanship, self-confidence and initiative amongst them, the University has taken a number of initiatives for promoting sports activities on the campus. Besides, taking up development of the Stadium Ground and other facilities for outdoor sports activities, the students have been encouraged to participate in Inter-University Tournaments conducted by various Universities under the aegis of AIU in other States. Steps are also being taken for promoting Inter-University Sports activities within the campus itself.
VC reported that the 4th Alumni Meet was held on the University campus on 13th August 2016. 05 Alumni interactions have been conducted in various Departments/Schools during the period 1st August till 28th September, 2016. The social web group of SMVDU Alumni has 1509 active members who have been interacting and sharing views, experiences etc. The VC informed that the University has opened a Linked-in Account which is continually updated with the events and achievements of the University and is also being utilized for publicizing about the recruitment process. The same is also being done with the Facebook and Twitter account of the University. Over 2000 alumni of the University are now linked to the University’s Linked In Account.The Council decided to consider CAT as the primary mode for admitting students to MBA program from Academic Session 2017-18, in addition to the existing mode of admitting students through MAT & CMAT.
VC informed that a total of 168 students were placed in 11 organizations for the Campus Placements-2015 while 98 students had been placed in 13 companies in Campus Placement 2014. Recently, Wipro Technologies selected 33 B.Tech. students. Students are also being trained for placement related activities including personality development and soft-skills. He reported that the various Boards (Board of Cultural Activities, Board of Sports Activities, Board of Professional Activities) and NSS Wing organized a number of events with the students participation. The students also participated in several noted national events such as in Mood Indigo organized by IIT-Bombay, UNIFEST organized by AIU, Indian Student Parliament organized by MIT-SOG, Pune. Workshops have been organized on social journalism, cyber safety and society etc.The Executive Council meeting was attended by Prof. K.L. Chopra, former Director IIT Kharagpur;Sh. R.P. Agrawal, former Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development; Mr. P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Prof. Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Mr. Ajeet K. Sahu, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board; Prof. V. Verma, Dean Faculty of Engineering; Prof. V. K. Bhat, Dean, Faculty of Sciences; SMVDU; Dr. Yugal Khajuria, Incharge Dean of Students, SMVDU; Dr. Vandana Sharma, Director School of Language and Literature; and Mr. Ajay Khajuria, Registrar of the University.