Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 22: Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Prof Talat Ahmad and Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Department Talat Pervez Rohella today discussed plan for the introduction of more skill-based and innovative courses in the colleges.
Chairing a meeting to discuss the formulation of course modules for additional skill-based courses to be introduced, Prof Talat Ahmad said; “We will have to reorient our courses and syllabi, wherever required, to help increase the employability of our college students.”
The four-hour-long marathon meeting-attended by Vice-Chancellors and Directors/heads of various academic, research and technology institutions across Jammu and Kashmir-was held on directions of K K Sharma, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor to discuss “Hub and Spoke model for skill domains, Innovation and Incubation.”
Addressing the participants, Mr Rohella said the technology development centers will be established in various colleges to impart the skill training. He sought study modules (of varying credits) from heads of participating institutions to roll out the programme without any delay. He said the Higher Education Department would provide all requisite facilities, including funds and manpower required to make the programme a success, vis-à-vis both short and long-term objectives.
“We will start with a pilot programme and then go on adding more courses to the study basket for students to choose from. Eventually these credit-based courses would graduate into full-fledged certificate, diploma and degree courses,” he said.
After thorough deliberations, it was decided that a high-level committee shall be constituted to formulate a robust policy implementation document on such courses (including credits/credit transfer/human resource etc) for adoption by the concerned academic institutions.
Heads of various institutions gave their suggestions to make the programme a success. These, among others, included Prof Manoj Dhar, Vice Chancellor University of Jammu; Prof Mushtaq Siddqui, Vice Chancellor, IUST, Awantipora; Prof Nazeer Ahmad, VC SKUAST-K; VC BGSBU Rajouri; Dr AG Ahangar, Director SKIMS Srinagar; VC SMVDU Katra; Regional Director IIMC Jammu; Director IIM Jammu, Dean Academic Affairs KU Prof Akbar Masood, Dean Academic Affairs Cluster University Srinagar Prof Peerzada Mohd Yusuf, Registrar University of Kashmir Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir and Director NIFT Srinagar., Dr Javed Ahmad Wani.
Director Colleges, Heads/Directors/Representatives from IIIM J&K; ISM Srinagar; IIT Jammu; Narayana Hospital Katra; NIT Srinagar; CDI Srinagar; IHM Srinagar, INTACH Jammu, NIFT Srinagar, Nodal Principal Jammu; Principal Amar Singh Colleges Srinagar; Regional Director ICA J&K, also spoke on the occasion.
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