Jammu, Dec 3 (KNS): With the State Cabinet formally approving the proposed Legislation for setting up two Cluster Universities in Jammu and Kashmir, the process has formally begun for making these Universities functional from the next academic session. The cabinet also approved creation of 124 posts for these Universities.
“Setting up of Cluster Universities, one each in Srinagar and Jammu, will not only augment the existing higher education facilities in J&K, but help diversification of the academics with introduction of latest job-intensive courses at the graduate, post-graduate and diploma levels,” Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar said.
The Cluster Universities are being established in the state under centrally-sponsored Rashtriya Ucchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) to run series of additional and novel courses in the existing colleges, with one of the colleges each in Srinagar and Jammu acting as the Lead College.
Akhtar said J&K has become the first State in the country to take lead in setting up the Cluster Universities. “The move is going to go a long way in expanding access to higher education by increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in the State,” he said and added that most of the feeding colleges of the new Cluster Universities would be introducing evening courses to remain functional 24x7.
According to the proposal formulated by the Higher Education Department in this regard, the Cluster University in Jammu will comprise GGM Science College, Government MAM College, SPCollege of Commerce, Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar and Government College of Education Canal Road.
Similarly, the Cluster University in Srinagar will comprise Amar Singh College Srinagar, SP College Srinagar, Women’s College MA Road Srinagar, Government Degree College Bemina and the College of Education, Srinagar.
All the participating colleges will be converted into constituent colleges of the Cluster University. While in Jammu GGM Science College will be the Lead College for the new University, in Srinagar Amar Singh College will be the Lead College
Akhtar said following the approval by the State Cabinet, the Education Department would now move a formal legislation in the upcoming Budget session of the State Legislature to pave the way for making the Cluster Universities functional. He said these Universities will be independent entities with their own Act and each headed by a Vice-Chancellor. “The colleges that form a constituent of the Cluster University will break free from Kashmir and Jammu University and the state will draw up a Cluster University Act and set up a fresh structure that will define the functioning of these Cluster Universities,” he said and added that the students will be allowed to pick courses of their choice from the units and will graduate as pass-outs of the new university.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
These Universities will be administered by an establishment comprising of the Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Financial Advisor, the Educational Advisor, the Registrar and the Controller of Examinations, sources said.
“A large number of post-graduate, under-graduate and diploma courses in different subjects can be introduced in the Universities thus benefitting larger number of students to pursue higher studies in regular mode”, Akhtar said, adding “the existing State Universities will also be benefited by reduction in responsibilities of managing admissions and examination of students enrolled in these Colleges”.
He said a grant of Rs 55 crore each has been provided under RUSA for development of additional infrastructure for these Cluster Universities. “Each Cluster University will offer post-graduate and diploma courses in social sciences, liberal arts, humanities, engineering, science, teacher education, languages, entrepreneurship development, management and other job-intensive courses,” Akhtar said adding in this way, the Cluster Universities will improve the quality of State Universities and Colleges and enhance their capacities to become dynamic demand driven and quality conscious.
With the setting up of two Cluster Universities in J&K, the total number of Universities in the State will go up to 11. J&K already has nine universities including University of Kashmir, University of Jammu, Central University Kashmir, Central University Jammu, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Islamic University of Science and Technology, SKUAST-Kashmir, SKUAST-Jammu and Mata Vaishnov Devi University.
Besides there are six satellite campuses of the University of Jammu and University of Kashmir in the State. These include North Campus Delina, South Campus Anantnag, Leh Campus and Kargil Campus affiliated with Kashmir University and Kathua and Bhaderwah Campuses, affiliated with Jammu University.
Akhtar said in another significant move aimed at standardizing the higher educational facilities in J&K, the Cabinet today decided to give financial autonomy to the state-run Universities so that these institutions can generate resources and spend the same as per their requirement. (KNS)