Metaphorically not but in real terms, the Jammu University (JU) must pause for some moments to go in for self appraisal to be not nursing any complacency about its near satisfactory position among the Universities of the country but must design a roadmap with a vision to skyrocket not only in academics and research but in other day to day issues concerning its development as a model University as well. Agreed, it is 51st ranked University and overall 77th ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) but that alone could not be the yardstick of attaining the level of standard which it is expected to attain as rankings are done very often on a few selected parameters and not on many, which leaves a scope of not unveiling certain areas of shortcomings and deficiencies.
One would put an argument that peeping or prying more would often lead to a situation of proverbial Lipizzaner colour but it could be the other way also when one has to touch the boundaries of excellence , if not perfection in an absolute form , one could find that there existed certain issues concerning the students and the goings on in the University. Let us start with that absolute limited source called the land from which majority of problems emanate and how could the University not get touched by the space constraints which though are not disturbing but when a comparative long line is drawn , we should not be content with the existing length, which in other words means that as compared to Kurukshetra, Chandigarh, Amritsar and even Kashmir Universities , JU is having campus covering lesser area. The chief reason, among many, being the adjacent land otherwise said to be belonging to JU, now under possession of different institutions seems difficult to be retrieved and annexed with the current area under actual control and use of the University.
However ancillary issues linked with space constraints like parking slots, hostel buildings, space for newer departments , public utilities, shops and the like are the issues needed to be addressed. Much has been promised about it but nothing so far appears to have been seriously pondered over. The matter attains interest in the light of the University having on its own, ‘surrendered’ administrative building at old University campus to State Government despite already facing space crunch. As a result of this, space strains are not appearing to be seriously troubling the University and for the time being optimum use of the existing space seems the only alternative . However, future expansion must be on the priority of the University management on which the work must be monitored on a perpetual basis. The University Students Unions in that direction could play a very positive role to smoothen things for future batches.
Is General Zorawar Singh Auditorium being used for activities related to University and academics more than for other purposes, we have our fingers crossed . This auditorium is lavishly being used for social , cultural and even politico- official activities around Jammu, hence it is in a way disturbing the equilibrium of the core activities of the University in its own measure. So far as income by renting out the auditorium to organisations to host events are concerned, the same must be considerably raised to increase the earnings of the University but more as a measure to prove as a discouraging move to use it more frequently by outside agencies and organisations.
JU does not have its own Mail Server, no integrated examination platform , no online admissions, no online papers and centralised control, lack of digital infrastructure, no biometric attendance for its staff though the same is mandatory in all State departments. So far as faculty strength is concerned , how could it on that parameter even be right since against the sanctioned strength , only 70% staff is engaged. Research work is abysmally in a poor condition as last year against 33 research project reports , only three got completed while in 14 projects a time overrun of over one to three years took place. As against 554 scholars registered for PhD , only 306 submitted their papers out of which only 258 were accepted. Astronomy department despite release of Rs.15 lacs by the UGC could not be opened and the money was refunded. Skill oriented education, the need of the hour, is nowhere on the priority of the University to be imparted at college levels so that the students later could enter professional fields.
Legal issues concerning the university affairs are not resolved satisfactorily as many cases are pending and how many , perhaps , the University management must be having no updated Data. Preference for certain lawyers representing JU and repeated changes in the legal cell are other glaring cases of the goings on in the University. No CCTV surveillance is there in the campus and many cases of sexual harassment continue to be unresolved and the guilty continue to remain unpunished. The optimistic note, however, is about the central Government right now focussing on Jammu issues and the Governor is taking decisions in the interests of the students and the university on the whole and it is expected that the University is destined to overcome most of its shortcomings and areas of concern addressed to see a real boom in offing for it.
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