Jammu, November 30: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha presided over the 35th meeting of the Executive Council of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) . The meeting covered a range of critical academic and administrative matters, including the Career Advancement and Promotion (CAP) for faculty members, non-functional promotions for non-teaching staff, increasing student enrolment, enhancing campus placements, and expanding the University’s outreach programs. Discussions also focused on the promotion of innovation, research, skill development initiatives, and fostering start-ups.
LG Shri Manoj Sinha emphasised the need for introducing new academic programs and revising the existing curriculum to align with the evolving demands of various sectors of the economy. He stressed the importance of capacity-building programs that bridge the gap between the availability and requirements of employable skills.
The Lieutenant Governor further encouraged the university to focus on offering specialized programs in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Automation, and Urban & Town Planning under disciplines like Design, Management, and Architecture. “The university should also prioritize strengthening the School of Languages, promoting regional languages, and offering courses in Sanskrit,” he added.
The Executive Council gave in-principle approval to several agenda points, including the design of new academic programs in line with the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, the creation of a Faculty of Medical Sciences under SMVDIME, and other reforms aimed at improving the university’s overall academic and administrative functioning.
The meeting also reviewed progress on previous decisions, including ongoing construction projects and recent initiatives to strengthen the SMVDU Technology Business Incubation Centre.
Prof. (Dr.) Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor of SMVDU, presented various agenda items for approval and ratification by the Executive Council, outlining the university’s ongoing efforts to enhance its academic and research landscape.
This meeting marks a significant step towards advancing SMVDU’s academic excellence and its role in contributing to the growth of Jammu and Kashmir’s knowledge economy.