Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday emphasised for time-lining the clearance of issues relating to granting Autonomous status to Islamia College, Srinagar and Government College for Women, Parade, Jammu as also drafting of Act for the two Cluster Universities in the State. He asked the Higher Education Department to fast track the matter and to finalize the cases in a time bound manner.The Chief Minister directed for taking on board the two Vice Chancellors of Universities of Kashmir and Jammu for finalizing the Autonomous status of the two colleges. He said the issues should be sorted out in the meeting to be chaired by Higher Education Minister. He also said that the Higher Education Minister should chair the meeting of all Vice Chancellors of the Universities in the State to formulate the draft Act for the two Cluster Universities before Law Department is asked to vet the same.
The Chief Minister was speaking in the 2nd meeting of the State Higher Education Council (SHEC) held here today under his chairmanship. The Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary, Planning, B. R. Sharma, Vice Chancellors of Universities of Kashmir, Jammu, Central University, Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Islamia University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education and other members of the Council were present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister who is also Chairman of the Higher Education Council received brief on various aspects relating to the functioning of Council as also those pertaining to the implementation of various educational programmes in the State.In a power point presentation, Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad explained the items listed in the agenda and gave overview of the action taken on decisions of 1st meeting of the Council. He dwelt in detail about the creation of Universities by conversion of colleges in a cluster, infrastructural grants to Universities, new model colleges, upgradation of existing colleges to model colleges, new technical colleges, faculty requirement, faculty improvement, vocational education, management information system, support to polytechnics and other related matters.The meeting discussed recast state higher education plan, financial and physical components, MMER grants, capacity building, consultation and training, data collection and compiling, mission directorate, submission of DPRs to MHRD, delegation of powers, research, innovation and quality improvement in Universities, matters pertaining to JK institute of mathematical sciences and grant of Autonomous status to degree colleges in the State. (GNS)