JAMMU: Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, and Mr. Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, have emphasized the need for setting up Incubation Centres in the Universities in J&K for developing entrepreneurship among the students for generating employment opportunities and boosting economic development in the State.
The Governor and the Chief Minister were addressing the University Council meeting of the Kashmir University at Raj Bhavan here today.
The Governor stressed the importance of a corpus fund being established by pooling resources to provide help to needy students in pursuing their education and research aspirations.
The Governor, who is Chancellor of the University, stressed the urgent importance of a small Expert Group being setup for evolving a broad approach in identifying the subjects and courses which may be offered to the students in both the Kashmir and Jammu Universities which are in sync with the emerging and future job market requirements. He observed that there is also need for imparting teaching in particular courses in which skills are also imparted, to enable the youth of the State to be advantageously placed in the job market.
Referring to the functioning of the Institute of Kashmir Studies, the Governor observed that the contents of courses offered by it should adequately reflect on the pluralistic foundations in the centuries past and the Sufi traditions for which J&K has been known all over the world.
The Governor and the Chief Minister observed that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, who are second to none in talent, caliber and capacity and have proved their mettle in all spheres of human endeavour, are capable of performing even better when provided enabling opportunities.
The Chief Minister, who is Pro-Chancellor of the University, emphasized the need for the autonomous centres of the State Universities committing themselves by entering into Result framework commitments, to become fully answerable.
Mr. Mohammad Akbar Lone, Minister for Higher Education, put forth various suggestions for improving quality of teaching and research on sustainable basis and making the universities and other institutions of higher education in the State centres of excellence.
Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, in his comprehensive power point presentation, dwelt on the status of various ongoing research projects and those in the pipeline, achievements of the University in varied fields since the last meeting of the Council, various courses introduced and other initiatives in the pipeline. He also gave details of the functioning of the off-site Campuses of the University and the courses offered.
The meeting discussed agenda items and took decisions thereon.
Among other members of the University Council, the meeting was attended by Prof. M. P. S. Ishar, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu; Mr. R. P. Aggarwal, former Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development; Mr. Deepak Pental; Mr. K. B. Aggarwal, Principal Secretary, Higher Education; Mr. B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary, Finance; Mr. Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; and Prof. Zafar Ahmad, Registrar, University of Kashmir.
