N. N. Vohra, Governor, has stressed on the Vice Chancellors the importance of ensuring that every off-site Campus of Jammu and Kashmir Universities is equipped with a sound faculty, adequate infrastructure and all other required facilities for being able to impart quality education which is oriented to the existing and emerging job markets. The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the Jammu University, was chairing the 75th meeting of the Jammu University Council held at Raj Bhavan here last evening. Reviewing the pace of progress on raising infrastructure for the various off-site Campuses of the Jammu University, the Governor stressed the need to ensure that all the ongoing works are completed within the stipulated timelines. He added that alongside other critical infrastructure, hostels for boys and girls must be completed on priority basis. Taking stock of the to-date status of his earlier directions that the main Campuses and the off-site Campuses of the Universities in the State should be connected through video conferencing and other technological linkages, the Governor impressed upon the Vice Chancellors of both the Jammu and Kashmir Universities to urgently explore this possibility as it would facilitate quality teaching and research. The meeting was informed that the Bhadarwah Campus of Jammu University has been linked through video conferencing, while the Kathua Campus would have this facility by end of this year.
Regarding the introduction of new courses, the Governor observed that care must be taken to reckon the employment potential of the pass-outs and, besides, the readily available capacities of the existing faculties.Stressing the high importance of ensuring the timely declaration of results of various examinations, keeping in view the career of students, the Governor directed that, in the normal course, the results should be declared within 60 days of the end of the examination, and, in no case, later than 75 days.The progress on the introducing NCC as an add-on-course at the undergraduate level was reviewed. The Governor urged both the Vice Chancellors to ensure the adoption of NCC training in the maximum number of colleges as this training, interalia, inculcates discipline, strengthens the bonds of brotherhood and camaraderie and enables the Cadets to seek officer level careers in the three Defence Services.Mohammad Akbar Lone, Minister for Higher Education, speaking on the occasion, put forth several suggestions in regard to the promotion of quality higher education in the State. earlier, Prof. M. P. S. Ishar, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, in his power point presentation, gave details of the academic and extra-curricular achievements of the University since last meeting of the University Council. He also dwelt on the functioning of the University and its off-site Campuses, the efforts being made to enlarge the infrastructure and the initiatives taken in the fields of teaching, research and extension activities. He thanked the Governor for taking keen interest in the growth of the University.The meeting discussed and took decisions on the various agenda items. It also reviewed the action taken on the decisions of the earlier meeting of the University Council.The meeting, among other members of the Council, was attended by Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Mr. B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development; Mr. B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary, Finance; Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, Secretary Higher Education; Prof. R. P. Tandon, Prof Vinayshil Gautam and Prof. Manoj K. Dhar, Registrar, University of Jammu.