Ganderbal, Jan 4: The 12th Meeting of the Academic Council (AC) of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) was held in the varsity’s Green Campus with Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir in chair.
Addressing the participants, both in offline and online mode, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir informed the members about the achievements of the University despite lockdowns, during the last one year. He said, “the abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent COVID-19 lockdown didn’t have much impact on the academics as the university successfully conducted the End Semester Examinations in offline mode, by establishing centres at various places within and outside Kashmir. The results of the examinations conducted were also declared within the stipulated time, thus saving the precious time of the students,” Prof. Mir, said that some of the departments also started offline classes after the easing of Covid restrictions. “We have not gone for any winter break during the current session but owing to harsh winter, the departments have shifted to online teaching mode.” He said the CUK has become a preferred choice of students because the degrees are completed without any delay and teacher taught relationship is excellent, adding the CUK has better student strength as compared to the other Central Universities established with it. This year all the schools started students structured induction programmes for the freshers to orient them with the institution and the teaching learning process. Prof. Mir informed that the university has bagged a prestigious Design and Innovation Centre project from the Ministry of Education and recently an MoU was signed with Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He said that through the project, the university is trying to revive the dying art and crafts of the J&K. Prof. Mir said the university is starting programmes in Kashmiri from the upcoming academic session and is also establishing Hindi department very soon.
Prof. Mir said the university has started implementing the recently approved National Education Policy in a phased manner, for which a task force is being constituted. We have also adopted Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) of SWAYAM from the current academic session. Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir confessed that despite marching ahead on academics, the university has faced huge challenges on the infrastructural front as the executing agencies have failed to complete the structures at the designated campus in Tulmulla for reasons beyond our control.
Welcoming the guests, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said that despite all odds, during 2020, the varsity has been quite successful in maintaining the teaching-learning process through the online mode. “Following the lockdown in March 2020, and in spite of the 2G internet, the faculty members used different online platforms to teach the students of respective classes and completed their syllabus, thus enabling the university to adhere to the academic calendar,” Prof Zargar added that the faculty members of every department were constantly in touch with the students and used every possible method to prepare them for the End Semester Examinations. He informed that the e-governance project has been taken up and would be implemented fully by year 2022.
Among others, the meeting was also attended by Hemavati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Annpurna Nautiyal, former Vice Chancellor, IUST, Prof. Siddique Wahid, former Vice Chancellor, University of Kerala, Prof. P K Radhakrishnan, Principal, Government College for Women, M.A Road, Prof. Yasmin Ashai, Professor and HoD Electronics, and Communication Engineering, NIT Srinagar, Prof. A H Mir, Center of Women’s Studies and Research, Prof. Tabassum Firdous, Prof. Department of Music Daulat Ram College, Dr. Sapna Raina Kachroo. The members from outside the University complimented the university for adhering to the academic calendar despite trying times.
The meeting was also attended by the Heads of Departments and Deans from within the institution including, Dean School of Social Sciences, Prof. G M Bhat, Dean School of Business Studies, Prof. Farooq A Shah, Dean School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Prof. Wali M Shah, Controller of Examinations, Prof. Parveen Pandit, Sr. Professor Prof. Abdul Gani, Dean School of Religious Studies, Prof. Hamiduallah Marazi, Dean School of Languages, Md. Gayas ud Din, Dean School of Animal Sciences, Prof. Muhammad Yousuf, Dean School of Legal Studies, Prof. Farooq Ahmad, and the Dean School of Media Studies, Prof. Shahid Rasool.
Prof. Afzal Zargar presented the agenda items for discussion, in which all the members actively participated and made valuable comments. The Finance Officer and DIC Director, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka, gave a detailed report about the DIC and proposed the vote of thanks.
