KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Chairing the 81st meeting of the University Council of the University of Jammu in Srinagar at the Raj Bhavan, Governor N N Vohra, Chancellor of the University of Jammu emphasised the high importance of launching innovative projects and promoting the application of newer approaches and technologies for the resolution of problems faced in the day to day lives of the people of J&K.
The Governor advised the Vice Chancellor to avail maximum possible benefit from the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) which is guided and advised by the collegium of all the IITs in India and the Institute of Science, Bangalore, an official spokesperson said Thursday evening.
While reviewing the on-going research projects in the University, the Governor stressed the need for quality research in ground water analysis and solid waste management to keep a check on the rapidly advancing pollution of the environment.
Reviewing the short term vocational courses offered by the Jammu University, the Chancellor suggested follow up of the pass-outs from these courses to assess the number who get gainfully employed.
The Governor also stressed strengthening the research activities and urged that the maximum number of PhD scholars should be involved with the on-going research projects.
The Chancellor suggested the time-bound construction of additional residential facilities for the students, especially the girl students, within the Campus.
Both the Chancellor and the Minister felt the need for critically reviewing the current relevance of the on-going programmes vis-à-vis the demands of the emerging job markets.
The Chancellor urged Prof R D Sharma, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu, and Prof. Khurshid Andrabi, Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, to make it a continuous phenomenon so that the courses which are not relevant are dropped or suitably modified and new courses introduced to meet the arising market requirements.
They stressed the Universities to undertake internal reviews, involving external experts, to identify the required modifications in the existing departments.
The Governor advised the VC to ensure round the year maintenance and hygiene within the University and also for continuously carrying out awareness generating activities among the staff and students.
The Council discussed the functioning of the Off-site Campuses and urged the VC to critically review their academic functioning. The Education Minister suggested engaging experienced and qualified faculty to raise the standards of teaching and research in all the Campuses.
The Council advised both the VCs to regularly organize lectures on ethics and values to curb the tendency of plagiarism and generate awareness among the scholars and raise the standards of research in the Universities.
The Council approved separation of Department of Electronics from the Department of Physics and Electronics; bifurcation of the Board of Sports and Youth Welfare into separate Boards for Sports and Students Welfare and creation of post of Dean Planning and Development in the University.
The VC, while making a presentation on initiatives and achievements of the University, informed that for strengthening academics, open courses have been introduced o provide opportunities to the students from different disciplines for integrated learning; Choice Based Credit System has been introduced in Bhaderwah Campus and in BBA (Hospitality and Tourism) at Main Campus; Semester System introduced at UG level in the Directorate of Distance Education from the Academic Session 2016-17.
The Choice Based Credit System has been introduced at UG level in the Degree Colleges affiliated to the University of Jammu from the Academic Session 2016-17.
The VC informed that 5 new research projects worth Rs. 1.96 crore ( 3 funded by UGC, 1 by the Department of Science &Technology and 1 by National Mission on Himalayan Studies), have been sanctioned to different departments of the University since the last meeting of the Council held in April 2016.
