Governor N.N. Vohra, Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, chaired the 78th meeting of the University at the Raj Bhavan.Sh. Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Minister for Education, participated in the meeting.
Chancellor emphasized that the University must periodically review its academic and research programmes to assess their contemporary relevance and advised that the University must remain abreast by developing productive collaborative linkages with top academic and research institutions in the country and anywhere in the world.
Both Chancellor and Education Minister stressed the need for critically reviewing the current relevance of the ongoing academic programmes vis-à-vis the demands of the emerging job markets. Chancellor advised both the VCs to make the review process a continuous phenomenon so that the outdated courses are suitably modified or developed and new courses introduced to meet the emerging job opportunities. Governor particularly stressed the need for both the State Universities to involve third parties to undertake internal reviews so that known external experts can help to identify gaps in the extant curricular contents.
Chancellor advised the VCs of both Universities to ensure round the year maintenance of cleanliness and sanitation within the University and to effectively generate among the students, staff and faculties a sensitive awareness to maintain cleanliness.
Earlier, Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Vice-Chancellor, made a detailed presentation and highlighted the reforms undertaken in the past three years in the administrative, academic, financial, examination, evaluation and other sectors. Vice Chancellor also reported the status of student enrolment in the University, number of candidates who have qualified M.Phil/Ph.D and the number of students who have successfully qualified in various national-level competitive examinations; number of papers published in peer reviewed journals and the impact factors achieved; new research projects secured and faculty development programmes undertaken.
University Council, inter-alia, approved: creation and constitution of University Research Council; adoption of guidelines for utilization of overhead charges received as extramural research project grants; reforms and interventions undertaken in the examination system of the University; conduct of Common Entrance Test for admission to BSc Nursing Course; and introduction of short-term courses in Media Education Research Centre.
In the context of discussions on administrative decisions relating to the appointment of an ineligible candidate, Chancellor expressed serious concern about the violation of codal requirements.
In all thirty seven agenda items were discussed by the Council which was attended by Prof R. D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor University of Jammu; Shri Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to Governor; Shri Navin Kumar Choudhary, Financial Advisor Universities; Prof. Khursheed A. Butt, Registrar, University of Kashmir; Prof. Farooq A. Masoodi, Dean, School of Applied Sciences and Technology; Prof. Rifat Geelani, Principal, Govt. Degree College for Women, Nawakadal, Srinagar; and Dr. Muheet Ahmed Butt, President, Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA).