Governor stresses research in varsities to resolve local issues

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 4

During the first convocation of Central University Kashmir (CUK), Governor NN Vohra on Wednesday underscored the need for research programmes in universities to find solutions to local problems.

In his presidential address, Vohra noted that the relevance of a university was determined by the extent to which its faculty and scholars were engaged in undertaking research programmes to find solutions to the problems faced by the people in the state.

“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 problems faced by our state,” he said.

He said J&K had certain historical and geographical disadvantages which have constrained its growth as a knowledge society. “We have attracted many eminent academicians from outside the state who have taught at our universities. I hope that a very large number of students from different parts of the country will also study in J&K universities in the coming years,” he said.

He said there was no dearth of talent in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Governor said a considerably large number of girl students were getting gold medals and certificates of merit in almost all universities. He hoped that, in the coming years, girls would take over the boys.

Nearly 1,057 students, including 56 gold medallists, received their degrees and 24 research scholars were awarded doctorate degrees during the convocation.

The Governor urged the teachers to maintain close relations with all their pupils, understand their problems and give them advice and support. “It is the responsibility of elders to guide youngsters and help them in tackling their problems,” he said.

Presenting the university report, CUK Vice Chancellor Prof Mehraj ud Din Mir said the academic activities in the university were started in 2010 from a rented building with the launch of three post-graduate (PG) programmes in English, management studies and information technology. The number of students was only 300 at that time, he said. “The number of students getting education and pursuing research in the university now is more than 2,300,” he said.

The state government allotted 5,000 kanal at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district for the establishment of the university in 2009. It is mostly functioning from rented buildings and has nine schools and 18 PG departments with nearly 35 academic programmes.

Prof K Vijay Raghvan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Central government, was the chief guest, and Prof Srikumar Banerjee, former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India, and founder Chancellor of the CUK, was the guest of honour.