VC Neelofar Chairs interactive session on ‘design your degree’ in Srinagar

Srinagar: To deliberate upon the initiatives of Higher Education in Jammu and Kashmir, under NEP 2020, the Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University (KU) chaired a high level interactive session with the varsity’s senior functionaries and the representatives of Jammu University (JU) here on Tuesday to deliberate upon the launch of undergraduate programme on ‘Design your Degree’ and ‘College on Wheels’.
According to a statement issued from Centre for Public Relations, University of Kashmir, Srinagar appreciating the efforts of the Higher Education Counsel J&K in taking up the initiative and shaping the future of teaching-learning, the Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University, Prof. Nilofer Khan said it was important to hold the interaction in order to understand the nitty-gritty of the concepts for as better and clearer understanding for the benefit of the student community.
She said the concept aims at giving students the options of choosing the subjects of their skill and passion and that they can design their degrees accordingly. This will bridge the gap between the academia and the real world problems as the focus of the programme is on experiential learning and project-based outcome.
“This is in tune with the NEP-2020 and we are contemplating to introduce this in our curriculum,” she said.
Having seen the template as adopted by Delhi University first and now Jammu University, she believed the course will yield better results in terms of employability as students will have the capacity to become job providers than job seekers.
“This will motivate the students for higher education whereby they have the flexibility of opting subjects of their own interest and passion, she said.
Director Colleges, Prof. Yasmeen Ashai said our degrees should be designed in a way our students get a chance to hone and polish their skills, areas of interest and passion.
She said, “This will give students an opportunity to develop their critical thinking and creativity as the degree is designed for employability.”
Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Masoodi said we have a good experience of adapting to changes and this course is designed for the youth who want to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.
“Such changes have always yielded good results and as things unfold, we will see how this can be further improved,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dean, Academic Affairs, Jammu University, Prof. Naresh Padha said the purpose of the course is to motivate students towards out-of-class experiential learning.
“The students will introspect as per their skill-strength and can design a degree for a better future,” he said.
Dr. Sadaf Shah from Jammu University gave a detailed presentation on the structure of the degree programme which Jammu university is introducing in September this year.
Prof. Alka Sharma from Jammu University, dean college development council, deans of schools, directors/heads/coordinators, controller of examinations and principals of colleges were present in the session who shared their inputs in shaping the programme for further improvement.