Srinagar, : Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) held its 73rd Meeting of the Board of Management at the VC Secretariat, SKUAST-K, with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai chairing the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Dr. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General, Agricultural Extension, ICAR; Dr.Cherukamulli Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-IARI; representatives from; Director General, Codes; Special Secretary, Agriculture Production; Special Secretary, Planning and Monitoring; Director Extension, SKUAST-K; Dean, Faculty of Forestry; officers of the university; and a progressive farmer, among others.
During the meeting, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai presented the University’s progress report, outlining institutional developments and the roadmap for its next phase of transformation.
In his address, Prof. Ganai said SKUAST-K has achieved the goal set in 2022 of moving from ‘Local to National’ and is now repositioning its goalpost from ‘National to Global’. He said the next phase of transformation would focus on six key pillars: student diversity, faculty diversity, curriculum transformation, research and innovation, world-class infrastructure, and financial sustainability.
Outlining the University’s 2030 roadmap, he identified targets including raising international student enrolment to 5 per cent and the share of students from other States and Union Territories to 35 per cent. He also set targets of expanding the University’s intellectual property rights (IPR) portfolio to over 250, taking its H-index to 250-plus, and attracting more than 50 faculty members from outside the Union Territory, including Professors of Practice and Adjunct Faculty, to strengthen faculty diversity.
Among the major decisions, the Board approved the establishment of the Centre for Faculty Training and Pedagogy Research (CFTPR) under the Centre for Quality Education, along with the Centre for Quality Plant Material Discipline and Certification (CQPMDC).
As part of academic restructuring, the Board approved the renaming of several divisions. The Division of Floriculture and Landscaping was renamed the Division of Floriculture, Ornamental Breeding and Landscaping Innovation. The Division of Fruit Sciences was renamed the Division of Fruit Breeding, Technology and Innovation, while the Division of Vegetable Sciences was renamed the Division of Vegetable Breeding, Technology and Innovation.
On the recommendations of the Selection Committee, the Board approved the appointment of Deans and Directors in various academic and administrative positions, including Education, Research, Planning and Monitoring, Students Welfare, Faculty of Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary Sciences and Fisheries.
The Board also approved direct appointments of Associate Professors and Professors across 14 departments, along with Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions of Associate Professors and Professors in 31 disciplines.
The Board also approved select recommendations of the Academic Council and considered matters related to statutory amendments.
