Chairing the 77th University Council meeting here at the Raj Bhavan, Governor N.N. Vohra, Chancellor, University of Kashmir, urged the Vice Chancellor Prof. Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi to maintain continued focus on high teaching standards, quality research and strengthen linkages with identified institutions of excellence within the country and abroad. Sh. Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Minister for Education participated in the meeting.To enhance awareness of the initiatives taken by the University for improvements in pedagogy, Chancellor advised Vice Chancellor to publicise the work being done and results achieved.Chancellor congratulated the University for figuring amongst top 200 institutions in QS-BRICS international ranking and securing the 73rd rank in the National Institutional Ranking Framework-2017. While appreciating the University’s performance in teaching-learning and research areas, he emphasized systematic efforts being made for improving future rankings by addressing the shortfalls in parameters of Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and Peer Perception (PP).Reviewing the Action Taken Reports on critical areas, Chancellor reiterated that the University must not deviate from its set goal of undertaking socially-relevant research on identified problems facing the State and imparting quality education to students, besides high attention to sports and extra-curricular activities.Prof Andrabi briefed the Council regarding the improvements brought about in regard to conduct of examinations and introducing transparency in regard to the University’s policies, recruitments, memoranda of understandings signed with top ranking institutions including Montana Tech, USA, e-governance practices, live-streaming of results etc. He informed that at present 212 research projects are ongoing, and 56 placements have been made through 3 recruitment drives during October 2016-March 2017.
The Council had detailed deliberation on the agenda items which included several key matters related to academics and research, establishment of the Directorate of Admissions and Competitive Examinations; reorganization of Institute of Technology (Zakura Campus); policy regarding refund of fee and return of documents after closure of admissions; grant special chance to PG pass outs of batches 2004-2012, for improving their performance; introduction of PG course in Geography at the Kargil and Leh satellite campuses; shifting 25 positions of Assistant Professor created under UGC 12th Plan; establishment of Department of Anthroplogy and Department of Philosophy; enacting policies for governing Admissions and Residence of Students in University-maintained Hostels, etc.The meeting was attended by Prof. Chetan Singh, former Director Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla;Prof R.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor University of Jammu; Sh. Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to Governor; Sh. Navin Kumar Choudhary, Secretary Finance; Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Secretary Higher Education; Prof. Gh. Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, Dean Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology; Prof. Maqsooda Khan, Principal Government Degree College for Women, Nawakadal; Prof. Khurshid Ahmed Butt, Dean School of Business, Dr. Mohammad Hussain, President KUTA; and Prof Musadiq Sahaf Registrar, University of Kashmir. (KNS)