Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today underscored the need for a comprehensive and futuristic roadmap to transform the higher education landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review the sector, he called upon the Higher Education Department to formulate a 5–10 year strategic plan aimed at elevating the stature of higher education and aligning it with contemporary academic, technological, and market needs.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu; Director, Colleges; Managing Director, RUSA; and other senior officers of the department.
Emphasizing the importance of relevance and innovation, the Chief Secretary urged the Department to revise the curriculum to make it more skill-oriented, industry-driven, and aspirational in outlook.
He stressed redesigning outdated courses and introducing new, market-driven programmes to ensure students are equipped for emerging employment opportunities.
Dulloo observed that the purpose of higher education is to create a futuristic, employable generation rather than one that struggles for opportunities post-graduation. He directed the Department to seek guidance from the Union Ministry of Education, NITI Aayog, and the Higher Education Council to strengthen policy alignment and institutional excellence.
The Chief Secretary also advised the Department to make human resource management a focal area of its reform strategy, ensuring that employees remain motivated, well-supported, and adequately trained to deliver effectively under all circumstances. He maintained that building institutional capacity and nurturing a capable workforce are critical for achieving the educational excellence.
Highlighting the Department’s progress, the ACS, Higher Education, Shantmanu, informed that significant strides have been made in infrastructure development, financial management, and student enrolment across the UT. He stated that the total enrolment in higher education institutions across J&K stands at 2,87,663 students, including 9,274 students in University of Jammu, 13,375 students in University of Kashmir, 1,98,392 students (UG + PG) enrolled in Government Degree Colleges and 56,644 students in Private Colleges across J&K.
The Department also highlighted its pioneering efforts in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, making J&K one of the first UTs to adopt the 4-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) with 58 major programmes under the 3+1 Honours model. The FYUGP framework features multiple entry-exit options and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), facilitating seamless mobility and credit transfers for students.
He said against a total outlay of Rs 713.48 Cr, cumulative expenditure stands at Rs 430.40 Cr, reflecting an excellent 94% utilisation against funds released by the Central and UT Governments (Rs 455.88 Cr).
To ensure timely completion of ongoing projects by March 2026, the Department has projected an additional requirement of Rs 251.92 Cr from the Government of India.
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