Cluster Universities to become functional from next academic session: Naeem

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 2: With the State Cabinet today formally approving the proposal for setting up two Cluster Universities in Jammu and Kashmir, the process has begun for making these Universities functional from the next academic session.
“Setting up of Cluster Universities, one each in Srinagar and Jammu, will not only augment the existing higher education facilities in J&K, but help diversification of the academics with introduction of latest job-intensive courses at the graduate, post-graduate and diploma levels,” Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar said.
Akhtar said J&K has become the first State in the country to take lead in setting up the Cluster Universities. “The move is going to go a long way in expanding access to higher education by increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in the State,” he said.
Akhtar said following the approval by the State Cabinet, the Education Department would now move a formal legislation in the upcoming Budget session of the State Legislature to pave the way for making the Cluster Universities functional. He said these Universities will be independent entities with their own Act and each headed by a Vice-Chancellor. “The colleges that form a constituent of the Cluster University will break free from Kashmir and Jammu University and the state will draw up a Cluster University Act and set up a fresh structure that will define the functioning of these Cluster Universities,” he said and added that the students will be allowed to pick courses of their choice from the units and will graduate as pass-outs of the new university.
He said a grant of Rs 55 crore each has been provided under RUSA for development of additional infrastructure for these Cluster Universities. “Each Cluster University will offer post-graduate and diploma courses in social sciences, liberal arts, humanities, engineering, science, teacher education, languages, entrepreneurship development, management and other job-intensive courses,” Akhtar said.
With the setting up of two Cluster Universities in J&K, the total number of Universities in the State will go up to 11. J&K already has nine universities including University of Kashmir, University of Jammu, Central University Kashmir, Central University Jammu, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Islamic University of Science and Technology, SKUAST-Kashmir, SKUAST-Jammu and Mata Vaishnov Devi University.
Besides there are six satellite campuses of the University of Jammu and University of Kashmir in the State. These include North Campus Delina, South Campus Anantnag, Leh Campus and Kargil Campus affiliated with Kashmir University and Kathua and Bhaderwah Campuses, affiliated with Jammu University.

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