KU VC chairs meeting of HoDs, reviews ongoing academic, research activities

Srinagar: Vice-Chancellor of University of Kashmir Prof Talat Ahmad on Thursday chaired a meeting of heads of teaching departments to review the ongoing academic and research activities in the varsity.
Asserting that the university was very prompt in switching over to the online mode of teaching following the Covid-19 outbreak, Prof Talat said he was glad to observe that most of the examinations have already been conducted while the class-work in other semesters is going on unhindered in a blended mode.
Prof Talat reviewed the status of offline/online classes as well as examinations conducted by the teaching departments recently.
He directed heads of departments to submit to-date semester-wise status of examinations/classes to the Dean of Academic Affairs for a considerate decision on resumption of offline teaching for other semesters in accordance with the SOPs related to Covid-19.
Asserting that teachers have to become more active in the university’s march towards academic excellence, Prof Talat said the university has recently secured a grant of Rs 10 crore—for the first time ever—under the Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
Underlining that the university is represented equally by science and non-science departments, Prof Talat reiterated that academics in social science, arts and humanities must show equal participation in terms of bagging the research projects from various funding agencies for their greater impact and outreach.
The VC also directed timely implementation of key provisions of the National Education Policy-2020, which lays a great emphasis on interdisciplinary and integrated approaches to education and research.
In his introductory remarks, Dean of Academic Affairs Prof Shabir Ahmad Bhat said the university’s teachers and students—despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19—have shown exceptional resolve to work in tandem to continue with the academic and research activities. Referring to NEP-2020, Prof Bhat said the Heads of Departments will have to work with greater zeal to implement the provisions of the flagship policy. The NEP-2020, Prof Bhat said, focuses on outcome-based learning alongside integrated approach to education and research. “It is our collective desire to see our institution attain greater heights. So we all have to work jointly to implement this policy and contribute to the academic excellence that it aims to achieve in the country’s higher education arena,” he said. Dean of Research Prof Shakil A Romshoo underlined various new initiatives being taken in the university to promote research in a big way in line with the university’s commitment to help address a host of societal and environmental challenges within and beyond the J&K.