Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 8 : A Forum of all the Universities of the Jammu and Kashmir was set up today for securing inter-varsity mutually beneficial collaborations in the arenas of teaching, research, libraries, extension projects, sports, cultural activities, sharing infrastructure and exchange of students and faculty with the larger objective of improving quality of higher education and securing speedy economic development of the State.
A decision to this effect was taken at a 3-hour long meeting of the Vice Chancellors of the Jammu and Kashmir held under the chairmanship of N N Vohra, Governor. This meeting was held at the Shalimar Campus of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, organized by Dr. Tej Partap, Vice Chancellor of the University.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor emphasized the need for forging productive collaborative arrangements and partnerships among the Universities and other institutions of higher learning in the State for maximizing the benefits of available infrastructure and human resources to make Jammu and Kashmir an educational hub of the country and providing the best benefits to the students.
Referring to the very high growth potential of the State in several areas, the Governor observed that it could be adequately exploited if the Universities could contribute by undertaking area and sector-wise researches to identify the most productive options. He said that such an approach would boost the growth and development of the State and also generate large scale employment avenues.
He also referred to the important role which could be played by the Universities in jointly undertaking timely studies on various aspects of glaciology, seismography and the rapidly advancing phenomenon of global warming and climate change and the manner in which such challenges could be timely addressed, to the best advantage of the State and its people.
The Governor impressed upon the Forum to make a beginning by organizing an inter-university sports event or a declamation contest, adding that he would make it possible for the Governor’s silver Rolling Trophy to be awarded to the winners of such a contest, to be held every year.
The Vice Chancellors participating in the meeting expressed strong support of the Governor’s keen interest in the promotion of quality education and for close collaborations being forged among the Universities in the State. The meeting discussed the various possible areas of collaboration and the modalities for maximizing the benefits to be drawn from the available funds, infrastructure and human resources for the overall good of the students and the State at large. They put forth several suggestions in this regard and agreed that the Forum would meet regularly. It was decided that the Forum’s next meeting would be held in Jammu in January 2013.
Dr Taj Partap, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, welcomed fellow Vice Chancellors to the meeting and recalled that it was being held in pursuance of an earlier commitment made to the Chancellor, N N Vohra, that he would take the initiative to bring all the Universities together for mutual benefit.
Dr Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Dr A R Trag, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipore; Dr Abdul Wahid, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir; Dr. M. P. S. Ishar, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Dr. D. K. Arora, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Dr I A Hamal, Vice Chancellor, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri; Dr R N K Bamezai, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University; Dr Nazeer Ahmad, Director, CITH (ICAR), Srinagar; Dr. Ram A Vishwakarma, Director, IIIM, Jammu; and Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; participated in the deliberations.
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