GNDU Senate meeting focuses on flood victims’ issues

A meeting of the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) Senate was held here on Wednesday. The meeting discussed critical issues concerning flood-affected communities and students while approving several key decisions for the university’s development. The meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dr Karamjeet Singh saw the agenda presented by Registrar Dr K S Chahal.

Dr Karamjeet Singh briefed the Senate members on the university’s achievements over the past few months and outlined plans for future initiatives. He invited open suggestions from all members to enhance the university’s roadmap. A significant focus was placed on GNDU’s commitment to supporting flood-hit areas, with dedicated teams actively assessing the needs of affected communities. “Based on their feedback, the university will formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy,” said Vice-Chancellor Dr Karamjeet Singh. Dr Singh emphasised that the challenges faced by flood-affected students would be prioritised, with efforts to address them in collaboration with the Punjab Government.

The Vice-Chancellor informed former Cabinet Minister Dr Inderjit Singh Nijjar about the urgent requirements for at least three high-quality hostels for female students, for which a request has already been sent to the Punjab Government. Dr Nijjar assured that the university’s demands would be raised with the government for priority resolution.

The Senate approved several significant decisions, including conferring an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree on Sardar Jasvir Singh Gill, CEO of Alert Enterprise, Fremont, CA, during the 50th Annual Convocation. Other approvals included establishing an offshore GNDU campus in California, renaming the Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) to Bachelor of Arts (Social Studies), and setting up the Surjit Patar Centre for Ethical AI for the 2025-26 academic session, supported by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. New courses such as B Tech (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning), M Tech (Artificial Intelligence and Data Science), MA (Hindustani Vocal Music), MA (Hindustani Instrumental Music), and Master of Performing Arts (Instrumental Music) were also approved. Additionally, the Senate greenlit the establishment of research centres and Ph.D programmes in affiliated colleges.

Justice M M S Bedi (retired), Jatinder Singh Aulakh, IPS (retired), Davinder Kumar Gupta from the Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs, Government of Punjab, Assistant Director Rajesh Kumar from the Higher Education Department, were present online.

GNDU has already initiated “Adopt a village” programme under its relief efforts and announced the extension of online admission/examination form schedule for session December 2025, Undergraduate Semester 1,3,5,7, 9 and Postgraduate Semester 1 and 3 for regular/private students (except Law TYC/FYIC Semester-1 and B.Ed. Semester-1) and examination forms for annual system examinations (special chance/additional subject, re-appear, improvement) has been revised, said Prof Shalini Bahel, Professor In-charge Examination.