SRINAGAR: A Valedictory function of the three week long General Orientation Course (GOC) was organized by the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, University of Kashmir on Tuesday.
It was presided over by Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir whereas Prof. Mushtaq A. Siddiqi, Vice-Chancellor, IUST was the Guest of Honour on this occasion. Course was attended by 42 newly appointed Assistant Professors of various colleges and universities of the J&K state belonging to diverse streams of Sciences, Social Sciences, Education, Arts, Humanities, Commerce, Management and Law.
In his presidential address, Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir emphasized that the University of Kashmir is on the forefront of academics and we are taking all possible measures to enhance our academic and research competencies.
He stated that the Kashmir University has recently signed a Memorandum-of-Understanding with Montana Tech University, USA and efforts are on to connect this University with other world class universities and institutes of higher learning across the globe with a view to provide students, scholars and faculty members an opportunity to interact and learn from each other.
Prof. Talat emphasized upon the need to change and transform teachers as well as teaching pedagogies in accordance with changing paradigms of higher education so that they can keep pace with fast changing trends of the contemporary times.
Prof. Mushtaq A. Siddiqi, Vice-Chancellor, IUST, Awantipur in his interaction with the participants of the course highlighted the impact of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data science, machine learning, block-chain revolution etc on higher education systems. He stated that with unprecedented developments and disruptive innovations, universities cannot afford to remain trapped within routine traditions.
He added that one of the most important functions of modern universities is in the area of research and higher education institutes are expected to advance knowledge in a wide range of fields.
In his welcome address Prof. Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Director, HRDC elaborated upon the aims and objectives and various innovations adopted in the design and conduct of the course.
Prof. Shabir said that if we want to stay competitive academically, economically and technologically, we need to re-examine and rethink our understanding of intelligence, re-evaluate our capabilities and enhance our commitment to learning. He added that we need to prepare our students with critical and innovative skills required to become major producers of knowledge.
Course Coordinator, Dr. Mohammad Ishaq Geer conducted the proceedings of the valedictory session and proposed the vote of thanks. In his valedictory report he mentioned that for the first time during this course participants were taken to two villages for a community engagement workshop wherein they were asked to identify developmental problems and needs of the communities and come out with tangible solutions through their expertise.