Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday chaired the 84th meeting of the University Council of the University of Kashmir (KU) at Lok Bhavan here, emphasizing the need for contemporary, interdisciplinary and skill-oriented academic programmes in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Lieutenant Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, underlined that higher education institutions must focus on innovation, employability and entrepreneurship, while ensuring that academic initiatives are aligned with local and regional developmental requirements. He advised the University to strengthen integrated and professional programmes to meet emerging academic and industry demands.
Key Academic Approvals
The University Council accorded in-principle approval to several significant academic and administrative proposals. These included adoption of a revised policy mechanism for admission of foreign (international) students, change of nomenclature of the Department of Earth Sciences to the Department of Geology, and introduction of Five-Year Integrated Master’s Programmes (FYIMP) in Applied Geology, Tourism and Travel Management, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Home Science.
The Council also approved the Programme Project Report (PPR) for M.A. History to be offered through the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE). Approval was further granted for extension of Merit and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship schemes to students enrolled in Five-Year Integrated Programmes.
Regulations governing five-year integrated programmes, including FYIMP in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, were approved, while recommendations of the Deans’ Committee on adoption of statutes governing the Ph.D. programme were discussed.
New Diplomas, Institutes and Language Programmes
The Council approved modifications in statutes governing Undergraduate Programmes (UGP-2022) in accordance with NEP-2020, including changes in degree nomenclature and adoption of standardized formats for certificates, diplomas and degrees.
Approval was also accorded for the introduction of a two-year Diploma in Calligraphy as a joint academic programme between the Institute of Music and Fine Arts, KU and the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Srinagar.
In-principle approval was granted for the establishment of an Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences at the University’s Kupwara Campus, introduction of a Diploma Programme in Criminal Justice through CDOE, and a Five-Year Integrated Master’s Programme at the Media Education Research Centre (MERC).
Additionally, FYIMP programmes in Hindi, Linguistics and English Language Teaching, Persian, Sanskrit and Kashmiri were approved, aimed at promoting multilingual education, cultural preservation and advanced studies in classical and regional languages.
MoU for Academic Collaboration
On the occasion, the University of Kashmir signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siddharth University, Uttar Pradesh, to promote academic collaboration in research and education.
VC Presents Achievements
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Prof. Nilofer Khan, presented the agenda items before the Council and briefed members on the academic, research and institutional achievements of the University.
Dignitaries Present
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Umesh Rai; Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Mohammad Mobin; Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu, Prof. K.S. Chandrasekar; Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu; Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Santosh D. Vaidya; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Administrative Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department, Dr. Ashish Chander; Vice-Chancellor, Siddharth University, Prof. Kavita Shah; Prof. A.S.K. Sinha; Registrar KU Prof. Naseer Iqbal; Dean School of Business Studies Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi, besides other Council members and senior officials, both in person and virtually.
