Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Shri Manoj Sinha inaugurated a 3-day capacity building programme on ‘Leadership Development of Academic Administrators and Principals of Colleges of J&K’ in Jammu. He lauded the collective effort of the University of Jammu and National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) for organising the workshop which focuses on implementation of National Education Policy 2020 and internationalisation of higher education. J&K UT is committed to reform and revamp higher education with the objective of giving our students the best curriculum and providing them knowledge and skills to compete with the best in the world. Ideas are new wealth. Universities should focus on creating intellectual property. Educational Institutions should emphasise on developing students’ capacities to be creative, innovative and focus on programmes to bring positive social change. He said, under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Jammu Kashmir is leading the reforms in the nation’s educational ecosystem. “J&K UT is committed to reform and revamp higher education with the objective of giving our students the best curriculum and provide them knowledge and skills to compete with the best in the world.” He called upon educational institutions to transform their campuses into the hub of skill development and innovation, and make their important contribution in realising the limitless potential of the youth of Jammu Kashmir. Addressing the eminent educationists and heads of institutions, he highlighted five aims and vision to create a strong foundation for future-oriented education. Classrooms should be the enabler of imagination. Mentoring and not teaching should be the main focus of educational institutions to thrive in 21st century “Education should be driven by creativity rather than by curriculum. It should be about developing the capacities of young people to be creative. It should be the main lever for a more competitive economy and educational institutions as well as other social institutions that must follow this model.” On the occasion, he called upon the teaching community, students and all the stakeholders to work with the resolve to establish Jammu Kashmir as a knowledge economy and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. He further emphasised on creating a conducive environment for foreign students in educational institutions of the Union Territory. Sh Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor and Prof. Dinesh Singh, Vice Chairman, J&K Higher Education Council highlighted the reforms to transform the Universities into the centre of knowledge and excellence. Sh Yashvardhan Sinha, Sh Ashok Kumar Kanth – former Ambassadors; Prof. Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor, University of Ahmedabad and Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor University of Jammu also spoke on the occasion.