Govt constitutes State Higher Education Council under RUSA

Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Dec 27: To steer the expansion of Higher Education in Jammu and Kashmir and allocate funds under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the State Government has constituted J&K State Higher Education Council.Headed by Chief Minister as the Chairman and Minister for Higher Education as the Vice-Chairman, the Council comprises of 21 members, including Chief Secretary and� Administrative Secretaries of Finance, Planning and Development Department.Administrative Secretary Higher Education is the member secretary of this Council under RUSA while Vice-Chancellors of Jammu University, Kashmir University, BGSBU, Islamic University Awantipora, SMVDU, Central University Kashmir, Central University Jammu, Nodal Principal of colleges, Director NIT Srinagar and� Director Colleges are among the other members.This� Council will approve the State Higher Education Plan and�� allocate funds under RUSA.Working as an independent and autonomous body, the Council under RUSA will� advise the Government for a comprehensive and� holistic evolution of Higher Education Sector. It will also suggest improvements in curriculum and syllabi in accordance with the changing societal and academic requirements.The Council� will� advise the Government on the start of new courses, colleges and other Higher Education institutions in the State, evolve schemes for providing equitable opportunities for Higher Education,� scholarships,� freeships and financial assistance to the needy students, coordinate implementation of SC/ ST and other eligible backward classes welfare programmes of the Government,� review periodically the Statutes, ordinances and regulations of the Universities in the State, evolve schemes to sensitize the students to environmental and gender issues,� promote framework for institutional accountability through proper regulatory system,� advise improvising the standards of Examinations and suggest reforms,� devise mechanism for social audit process and public feedback on performance and achievements and�� assess the existing infrastructural facilities of the institutions.