Shalimar : The 46th Academic Council meeting of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) convened to discuss significant topics such as academic transformation, research and innovation, and infrastructure development, while emphasizing the University’s transition from a national to a global focus.
Chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, the meeting included participation from Academic Council members, representatives from other institutions, and government officials, with Shri Ram Niwas serving as the chief guest. Prof. Ganai highlighted the critical need for integrating technology into agriculture to address contemporary challenges, advocating for a stronger emphasis on knowledge creation and innovation within higher education. He underscored SKUAST-K’s role as an innovation-driven institution contributing to the knowledge economy, expressing optimism that the meeting’s decisions would yield tangible benefits for the University. Shri Ram Niwas recognized SKUAST-K’s potential to expand its influence in the higher education sector and commended its shift towards global objectives. He noted the proposed Centre for Pedagogy and Training as a potential model for other universities and expressed hope for fruitful outcomes from the Council’s deliberations. Prof. M. Altaf Bhat, Director of Education, emphasized the importance of aligning academic priorities with both national and global needs. The Registrar, Prof. Azmat Alam Khan, presented the University Progress Report, detailing the shift in institutional goals from local to national in 2022 and aiming for a global perspective by 2026. The meeting also included discussions on the agenda and Action Taken Report from the previous session, with contributions from representatives of sister institutions. A revised uniform format for postgraduate and Ph.D. theses was introduced to enhance standardization in thesis preparation. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Deputy Registrar Umer Ibni Assad.
