Varsities asked for stringent quality control in B Ed colleges
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 27: During his maiden meeting with the Vice-Chancellors of all the State universities in Jammu and Kashmir, here today, Governor Satya Pal Malik took an overview of functioning of these institutions of higher learning and asked for issuance of Academic Calendar well in advance, making biometric attendance a compulsory feature of varsities, strict compliance of UGC norms for selection of teaching positions and introduction of stringent quality control in B Ed colleges.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Governor, who is also Chancellor of all the State universities, sought information about manner of appointments in these varsities and regulations for the same, funding of the universities, infrastructure for the sports activities on the campuses, revision of syllabus and general issues of these institutions.
Asking all the Vice-Chancellors to remain prepare for the respective apex Council/Executive meetings soon, sources said that the Governor also expressed his desire to personally visit campuses of the State universities in near future for on the spot assessment.
This was for the first time that Satya Pal Malik, who assumed the charge of Governor J&K on August 23 this year, met with the Vice-Chancellors of State universities.
During the more than one and half hour long meeting at the Raj Bhawan Jammu, each Vice-Chancellor was given time for presenting brief overview of his/her respective institution after which the Governor made remarks for better and transparent functioning of these universities, sources added.
As the issue of Jammu University land under Army occupation also came up during the meeting, the Governor asked the JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Manoj K Dhar to take up the matter with Divisional Commissioner Jammu for necessary action in this regard, sources disclosed.
While chairing the meeting, Governor directed the Vice-Chancellors that Academic Calendar for each Academic Session should be issued well in advance and all the backlogs if any must be cleared for avoiding inconvenience to the students besides streamlining the system. He also stressed that biometric attendance should be a compulsory feature of the Universities even as no time frame was yet fixed for adopting the same.
Even as the Governor stressed for further improving teacher- student ratio, he, however, made it clear that selection procedure for the teaching positions must comply with the UGC norms. He further stated that stringent quality control measures should be introduced in the B Ed colleges affiliated with the universities.
Taking keen interest on enhancing sport infrastructure at the campuses, the Governor stressed that sports and extracurricular activities be encouraged as an integral component of University education and in this regard, he advised that the annual Inter University Sports meet be made a regular feature.
According to an official spokesman, Governor also laid stress on promoting entrepreneurship among the youth and suggested that Universities may introduce suitable courses in this area. He emphasized focus towards introducing vocational and entrepreneurial courses for the skill development of the students.
The Governor also stressed that gainful benefits under RUSA must be maximized and all higher Education Institutions must ensure NAAC Accreditation. He emphasized upon all the Universities to enhance their research capabilities and to update the syllabus regularly so as to keep abreast with rapidly changing global developments. He observed that there should be a State level Advanced Research facility with latest equipment for promoting research in the new and innovative areas.
Governor advised the Farm Universities to undertake innovative research in improving seed varieties particularly oilseeds and pulses and suggested that measures be taken for reducing the yield gap between the farmers’ field and the experimental plots of the Universities by deputing a team of researchers for finding out reasons for such variations and addressing them suitably. He also stressed strengthening of extension services and rapid transfer of technologies to equip the farmers with latest know-how.
Besides Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Advisor to Governor; Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to Governor and Sarita Chouhan, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, the high level meeting was attended by Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Secretary Agriculture Production Department; Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Prof Manoj Kumar Dhar, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Dr Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Prof Nazeer Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir; Prof Javed Musarrat, Vice Chancellor, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri; Prof Sheikh Javid Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar; Prof Anju Bhasin, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu; Dr Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University; Prof Mushtaq A Siddiqi, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University of Science & Technology, Awantipora and M R Andrabi, Director General Finance Department.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
