‘Prepare roadmap to bring qualitative improvement in universities’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today asked the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities to prepare a roadmap for bringing qualitative improvement in the overall functioning of the universities and adopt J&K centric changes as per the New Education Policy, besides imparting training to the teachers within the Universities and outside the UT for the transformation of learning system.
The Lt Governor was chairing a meeting to review the functioning of the universities here at the Raj Bhavan.
Kewal Kumar Sharma, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor; Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar; Prof. Talat Ahmad; Dr. Nazeer Ahmed; Prof. (Dr.) Ravindra Kumar Sinha; Prof. Javed Musarrat and Prof. Mushtaq A Siddiqi – Vice-Chancellors of University of Jammu; University of Kashmir; Cluster University, Srinagar; Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST), respectively, besides Talat Parvez Rohella, Secretary, Higher Education and other senior officers attended the meeting.
The Lt Governor sought suggestions and recommendations from the VCs on how J&K could benefit from New Education Policy and what are the challenges in its implementation.
He stressed on the high importance of preparing an effective strategy for implementation of grants under RUSA and asked the VCs to submit a detailed report on five unique initiatives taken by the universities in last One, Two and Three years and the impact of these initiatives on teaching-learning programmes.
He directed the VCs to submit a report on faculty recruitment and promotion against sanctioned strength, number of admissions against approved seats, the status of statutory body meetings, besides any issues pending with Chancellor’s office like nominations, approval etc.
He called for enhancing the quality of education while ensuring gender equality and educational welfare of downtrodden and underprivileged sections of the society.
He asked the VCs to maintain transparency in transfers and recruitment process with strict adherence to the Reservation and Recruitment Rules.
On technology-based learning, the Lt Governor stressed on optimum utilization of all available technology-based learning platforms, besides updation of e-learning tools and other ICT technology-based teaching programmes to connect the students and Faculty with the enhanced educational resource platforms. He sought the feedback on how effective and pragmatic these plans are.
He further called for laying special focus on linkage with local and outside industry, capacity building, job-oriented courses for the students to meet the modern-day requirements, besides focusing on new and traditional skill development simultaneously.
Emphasizing on effective student feedback system, the Lt Governor enquired about the improvements being made through the established feedback system. Student feedback on teaching is a global practice and it helps lend perspective to the teaching and pedagogical standards and practices of a University, he added.
The Lt Governor sought a status report on research grant and difficulties in obtaining the grants from agencies such as ICSSR, ICAR, ICHR, CSIR, DST and DBT; student interactive programmes in and outside J&K, funding for incubation & innovative ideas, available intellectual infrastructure like libraries and laboratories; administrative, academic, financial and examination related reforms and research breakthroughs made by the Universities.
He directed the VCs for submission of reports on the future course of action of the Universities, preparation of new academic session, online examination, last curriculum revision with a learning outcome, Academic, curricular and Administrative activities and milestones achieved, budgetary allocations, research activities, Convocation status, admissions and enrolments of students under various programmes and courses offered by the Universities etc.
On being informed about the NAAC status and NIRF rankings of the Universities, the Lt Governor called for making sustained efforts to improve the quality of University education ecosystem so as to improve the current rankings, besides promoting excellence in teaching, research and extension activities, strengthening technical education and optimum utilization of resources.
He further advised them to evolve best practices for maintaining transparency in the working of the Universities.
During the meeting, Vice-Chancellors gave a detailed briefing about the functioning of the Universities.
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