Srinagar: The first Convocation of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) was held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here on Wednesday.
Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India Prof. (Dr.) VijayRaghavan was the Chief Guest on the occasion and delivered the Convocation address while as former Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Prof. (Dr.) S. K Banerjee was the guest of honour.
Honourable Governor, Jammu and Kashmir, Shri. N N Vohra presided over the function.
National Conference Vice-President and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Omar Abdullah, MP Mr. Nazir Ahmad Laway, MLAs Mr. Mian Altaf, Mr. Akbar Lone, Mr. Ishfaq Jabbar, MLC, Mr. Syed Naeem Akhter were also present during the occasion.
CUK, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, University of Kashmir Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Khurshid Andrabi, Central University of Jammu, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ashok Aima, Islamic University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mushtaq A. Siddiqi, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Javed Musarrat, founder Vice-Chancellor CUK, Prof. Abdul Wahid Qureshi, former Vice-Chancellors of University of Kashmir, Prof. Riyaz Punjabi and Prof. Jalees Ahmad Khan Tareen, former Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Karnataka, Prof. A M Pathan, CUK, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, members of the Statutory bodies including, Court, Executive Council, Academic Council and the Finance Committee, Deans of Schools, Heads and Coordinators of Departments, faculty members, senior functionaries of the CUK and other Universities and senior officials of the government were also present on the occasion.
Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar declared the convocation open and also conducted the programme proceedings. He also announced the names of the students who were awarded degrees and gold medals on the occasion. He also presented the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to everyone for attending the mega event.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir while presenting the University report, said the CUK along with other 13 universities were established in 2009 and the then State government allotted 5000 kanals of land at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district for its establishment. He said the academic activities in the university were started in 2010 from rented building with the launch of three Post-Graduate programmes in English, Management Studies and Information Technology and the number of students was only 300. “The number of students and scholars receiving education and pursuing research in the university as on date is more than 2300,” Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said, adding the university has nine Schools and 18 PG departments with near about 35 programmes including five year integrated courses and skill based programmes. He said the admission to the programmes including research degree programmes offered by the CUK and other sister universities is jointly conducted by the consortium of 10 Central Universities on the basis of Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET).
He said the departments coming under School of Sciences would be soon shifted to the Pre Engineered Buildings coming up at the designated site at Ganderbal, adding that the students would be provided state of the art laboratory facilities in these buildings. Vice-Chancellor further said the university has already shifted the administration to Ganderbal.
He said the CUK has been able to get the senior qualified faculty on regular basis and the faculty members represent many States of India. Prof. Mir said the CUK has given due preference as far as professional development of the teachers and administrative staff is concerned.
Vice-Chancellor, said the university has already established an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Directorate of Students Welfare, Research Council and other important bodies, adding the university has an efficient students feedback system. Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said the varsity has organised several international and national seminars, workshops, and other academic activities from time to time.
The curriculum of all the programmes is upgraded to address the needs of different stakeholders including public and private sector. The university since recent past has been focusing more on skill based technical courses and integrated programmes to ensure employability of the graduates and to also make them skilled.
He said the university received messages from Honorable President and Visitor to the Central Universities, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind and Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi extending good wishes to all the graduates receiving the degrees and awards.
Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India Prof. (Dr.) K. VijayRaghavan who was the Chief Guest delivered the Convocation address. He said the universities of today have to play a role in the contemporary times to carry forward the mission of different centres of wisdom as envisaged in different religions. “Their role as the agents of change through development of youth by way of scholastic and non-scholastic measures is expected to provide a citizenry to the nation with capacities and capabilities based on value orientation that can make it great,” he said. Prof. (Dr.) K. VijayRaghavan said that this is still the early stages of the university and the challenges regarding the infrastructure development need to be addressed. He said the Government of India will ensure that there would not be any shortage of funds for the establishment of the university.
Former Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Prof. (Dr.) S. K Banerjee who was the guest of Honor while speaking on the occasion said that my association with the university from the last five years has taught me several things. “My appointment as the Chancellor has given me privilege to visit this wonderful land and meet wonderful people,” he said. Prof. (Dr.) S. K Banerjee said the convocation is a day of transition. “Till this day your parents or the society at large support you. Your are a receiver. From this day onwards, you are now contributor to your family and society,” he said adding that convocation is not end of education, which goes on for whole life. Prof. (Dr.) S. K Banerjee said the convocation is a day when we assume responsibility.
Honourable Governor, Jammu and Kashmir, Shri. N N Vohra who presided over the function while speaking during the Convocation said that we expect that students from all parts of the country to come to Jammu and Kashmir, not only to enjoy its beauty, but also to imbibe knowledge. He said that when CUK, IUST, BGSBS and SMVDU were coming up simultaneously, there was a time when we had significant shortages in faculties due to paucity of resources in the State and the UGC also found it difficult to provide any help as we did not have any requisite facilities and faculty. “At that time, I met all the Vice-Chancellors and during the meeting we arrived at an understanding that all the universities would help each other by loaning teachers, adjunct faculties and other faculties, I am happy to say that over a period of time, this forum of Vice-Chancellors, took off on its own and they are meeting frequently to discuss academic matters,” he added. He said the CUK has faced many problems on logistic front, but has grown well.
Shri. N N Vohra said “I have been suggesting to the Vice-Chancellors that the importance of their universities directly relates to the extent of research carried out on local issues, relating to climate change, preservation of water bodies, biodiversity and ecology, master planning of our cities, traffic management and other issues faced by our State.” He said there is no dearth of talent in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the girls and women in the state are excelling in all the fields and professions.
During the convocation, in addition to those receiving degrees in absentia, as many as 1057 students, including 56 gold medalists received the degree in person. In addition to this, 24 research scholars were also awarded Doctorate and M.Phil Degrees during the convocation.