Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Governor N.N. Vohra, Chancellor of the Kashmir University, advised the Vice Chancellors of both the Kashmir and Jammu Universities to see that their Faculties have meaningful interactions with the entire teaching fraternity in the colleges and higher secondary schools to enhance the standards of teaching and learning at all levels in the educational system.
He said this in the University Council meeting of the Kashmir University. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Pro Chancellor of the University and Naeem Akhter, Education Minister participated in the meeting.
The Chancellor and the Pro Chancellor suggested sharper focus on the quality of the upcoming infrastructural projects in the main and the off-site campuses of the University.
Prof. Andrabi, Vice Chancellor, reported the outcome of the review undertaken by the University of all existing courses offered in the off-site campuses, consequent to which certain courses had been dropped. Chancellor advised that such reviews should be carried out on a continuing basis so that, dynamically, the less relevant courses are suitably modified or dropped and new courses introduced to meet the aspirations of the students vis-à-vis the emerging job market requirements.
The Chancellor, Pro Chancellor and the Education Minister took note of the comparatively improved performance in the Humanities arena as compared to the rather inadequate performance in the past years. It was noted that the number of research papers in the Humanities subjects had increased. VC was advised to continuously raise the level of research work and the publications flowing there from.
While considering various academic matters, the Council approved Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) by Educational Multi Media Research Centre (EMMRC); conduct of back to back examinations of 1st and 2nd semester batches (2016-17) and of the 2nd & 3rd semester batches of 2015-16 in the Undergraduate courses as a contingency measure in view of the recent unrest; substitution of semester-end examinations by continuous unit-wise assessments in each of the Post Graduate programmes, as per the proposed scheme; reservation of 60% seats for English Honors graduates for admissions to the M.A English course; approval of draft statutes and regulations governing semesterised Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) for undergraduate level courses; approval of Statutes governing the 2 year B.Ed. programme through Directorate of Distance Education; and creation of one supernumerary seat for admission to the various PG courses in the main campus for the candidates from Kargil.
The Council approved introduction from Academic Session 2016 of M.Ed Supplementary Programme at Govt. College of Education, Srinagar and reservations for specially-abled candidates in teaching and non-teaching jobs in the University.
The Vice Chancellor informed the Council that efforts are being made to expand and strengthen the existing sports infrastructure in the main and in the satellite Campuses; funds have been earmarked by the UGC for establishment of a new Gym with 50 bedded sports hostel in the main Campus and purchase of sports gear for every campus under RUSA funds.
Among those who attended the Council meeting included the Chancellor’s nominees on the Council: Prof. Chetan Singh, Director Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla; B.B. Vyas, Financial Commissioner Planning and Development; P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Prof. R.D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University; Asgar Hassan Samoon, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Department; Prof. Mohi-Ud- Din Bhat, Dean Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology; Prof. Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, Dean Faculty of Commerce & Mgt. Studies; Prof. Parveen Pandit, Principal Govt. College of Education; Srinagar; Prof. Mohammad Hussain, President KUTA and Prof. Musadiq A. Sahaf, Registrar, Kashmir University.
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