SRINAGAR: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Thursday outlined an ambitious roadmap to transform itself into a globally recognised institution by 2030, with a focus on internationalisation, research, innovation and academic reforms.
The vision was discussed during the university’s 46th Academic Council meeting held at the Shalimar campus and chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai. Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Department, Ram Niwas, attended the meeting as a special guest.
Addressing the council, Prof. Ganai said the university had achieved the goal set in 2022 of moving from a “local to national” institution and was now aiming to transition from “national to global” by 2030.
He said the next phase of development would be guided by six key areas — student diversity, faculty diversity, curriculum transformation, research and innovation, world-class infrastructure and financial sustainability.
According to the roadmap presented at the meeting, the university aims to increase international student enrolment to five per cent and raise the share of students from other states and Union Territories to 35 per cent by 2030. The university also plans to expand its intellectual property rights (IPR) portfolio to more than 250 and achieve an H-index of over 250 while attracting more than 50 faculty members from outside Jammu and Kashmir, including Professors of Practice and Adjunct Faculty.
Prof. Ganai also emphasised the need for a sustainable mountain development policy in view of climate change and growing pressures on mountain ecosystems. He said the university should contribute towards developing climate-resilient approaches for mountain agriculture and sustainable development.
Speaking at the meeting, Ram Niwas said SKUAST-K had demonstrated how an agricultural university could play a broader role in the higher education sector. He said the proposed Centre for Faculty Training and Pedagogy could emerge as a model for institutions across the country.
He also suggested the creation of an Indian Teachers Service on the lines of national services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Economic Service (IES) to strengthen academic capacity-building. He further advocated long-term institutional planning through structured five- and ten-year action plans with measurable outcomes.
Earlier, Director Education Prof. Mohd. Altaf Bhat delivered the welcome address, while Registrar and Member Secretary of the Academic Council, Prof. Azmat Alam Khan, presented the university’s progress report and the action taken report on decisions from the previous council meeting.
During the meeting, the university also released a revised uniform format for postgraduate theses prepared by Dr. Heena Hamdani to standardise thesis preparation and submission. A doctoral thesis by Agricultural Engineering scholar Er. Riyaz Ashraf was showcased as a model for research scholars for its inclusion of a dedicated chapter on research outcomes.
The vote of thanks was presented by Deputy Registrar (Academics), Umer Ibni Assad.
