The University of Kashmir established the Directorate of Distance Education in the year 1976 with the view to impart education in different disciplines through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The Directorate of Distance Education has been offering many academic courses/programmes and undertakes a diverse range of activities but yet failed to be as attractive as the other distance modes of education of other universities.
The Distance education mode of the Kashmir University has failed to be as attractive as the other distance modes of education of other universities. On the other hand, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Distance mode of education has outsmarted the distance mode of Kashmir University in terms of being the first choice for the students of Kashmir on account of quality courses and study material offered by IGNOU as compared to the Kashmir University.
Majid Ahmad, a student says, “When it comes to mind of the students to pursue the Distance mode of education, the IGNOU mode is a most preferred mode when compared to distance education mode of Kashmir University it is far better than that .The university of Kashmir should certainly diversify and improve its distance education mode to match the likes of IGNOU.”
On the other side of the spectrum, the need to widen the horizon of the vocational courses at the Kashmir University is felt direly by the students’ community. According to leading academic voices of the Kashmir Valley, the Secretarial Practices, Architectural Draftsmanship, Desktop Publishing, Hair & Skin Care, Fruit & Vegetable Preservation Programs are the pivotal vocational education courses that the University of Kashmir needs to incorporate on its vocational program. These courses if accommodated by the Kashmir University can improve the job prospectus of the students of Kashmir University.
It is pertinent to mention here that on ground zero by and large the University of Kashmir has failed to perform these functions in an effective manner and as a result the career counseling and placement related needs of major chunk of students remained unfulfilled. With few exceptions, the majority of students perusing their courses in Kashmir University are feeling highly uncertain and worried about future prospects.
Department of Masters In Finance & Control (MFC), Department of Linguistics and several other departments bear an epitome to this grave veracity.
The realities call upon the University of Kashmir to address the downward slide and show much more focus into improving the efficiency and once again become the top institution of Kashmir. Realities call upon the University of Kashmir to pull up its socks and improve upon its grey facet. (KNB)