SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday chaired the 84th Meeting of the University Council of the University of Kashmir (KU), at Lok Bhavan, Srinagar.
The Lieutenant Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the University, emphasized the need to introduce contemporary, interdisciplinary and skill-oriented academic programmes aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP-2020).
He stressed that the University must focus on innovation, employability, and entrepreneurship, while ensuring that academic initiatives respond to local and regional developmental needs. The Chancellor also advised the University to strengthen integrated and professional programmes to meet emerging academic and industry requirements.
The University Council, which met under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, accorded in-principle approval to several important academic and administrative agenda items. These included the adoption of a revised Policy Mechanism for Admission of Foreign National (International) Students; change of nomenclature of the Department of Earth Sciences to the Department of Geology; and the introduction of Five-Year Integrated Master’s Programmes in Applied Geology, Tourism and Travel Management, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Home Science.
The Council also considered and approved the Programme Project Report (PPR) for M.A. History to be offered through the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE). Approval was accorded to the extension of Merit and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship schemes to students enrolled in Five-Year Integrated Programmes. Further, the Council approved the Regulations governing Five-Year Integrated Programmes, including FYIMP in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and discussed the recommendations of the Deans’ Committee regarding adoption of statutes governing the Ph.D. Programme.
The University Council also approved proposals relating to modification in statutes governing Undergraduate Programmes (UGP-2022) with respect to nomenclature of degrees under NEP-2020, and the adoption of standardized formats for certificates, diplomas, and degrees. Additionally, the Council approved the proposal for the introduction of a two-year Diploma in Calligraphy as a Joint Academic Programme between Institute of Music and Fine Arts, KU and the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Srinagar.
The University Council also accorded in-principle approval to key academic proposals under the agenda on consideration of academic matters. These included the establishment of an Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences at the varsity’s Kupwara Campus; the introduction of a Diploma Programme in Criminal Justice through the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE); and the introduction of a Five-Year Integrated Master’s Programme (FYIMP) at the Media Education Research Centre (MERC).
Further, the University Council approved proposals for the introduction of Five-Year Integrated Master’s Programmes (FYIMP) in several language and humanities disciplines. These included FYIMP in Hindi, Linguistics and English Language Teaching, Persian, Sanskrit, and Kashmiri, as proposed by the respective Heads of Departments. The Council noted that the introduction of these programmes would promote multilingual education, cultural preservation, and advanced studies in classical and regional languages.
The Council held detailed deliberations on multiple academic, regulatory, and institutional matters, aimed at strengthening governance structures and enhancing the overall quality of teaching, learning, and research at the University.
Earlier, Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, presented the agenda items before the Council for consideration and ratification. She also briefed the Council on the academic, research, and institutional achievements of the University.
On the occasion, University of Kashmir inked an MoU with Siddharth University, Uttar Pradesh for promotion of academic collaboration for research and education.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister, Shri Omar Abdullah; Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Umesh Rai; Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Mohammad Mobin; Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu, Prof. K.S. Chandrasekar; Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shri Shantmanu; Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Shri Santosh D. Vaidya; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Administrative Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department, Dr. Ashish Chander; Vice-Chancellor, Siddharth University, Uttar Pradesh, Prof. Kavita Shah; former Director and Professor (Chemical Engineering), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, Prof. A.S.K. Sinha; Registrar KU and Secretary to the University Council, Prof. Naseer Iqbal; Dean, School of Business Studies KU, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi, other Council members and senior officials attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode.
