SRINAGAR: The Board of Management (BoM) of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Friday approved the establishment of new academic centres, appointments to senior positions and a series of academic restructuring measures during its 73rd meeting held at the university’s Vice-Chancellor Secretariat.
The meeting was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai and attended by senior representatives from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), SKUAST-Jammu, the Agriculture Production Department and other stakeholders.
Presenting the university’s progress report, Prof Ganai said SKUAST-K had achieved its objective of expanding from a regional to a national-level institution and was now aiming to strengthen its global presence. He outlined a roadmap focused on student and faculty diversity, curriculum reforms, research and innovation, infrastructure development and financial sustainability.
Among the targets highlighted were increasing international student enrolment to 5 per cent, raising the share of students from other states and Union Territories to 35 per cent, expanding the university’s intellectual property rights portfolio and attracting faculty members from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The Board approved the establishment of the Centre for Faculty Training and Pedagogy Research under the Centre for Quality Education and the Centre for Quality Plant Material Discipline and Certification.
As part of academic restructuring, it also approved the renaming of several divisions. The Division of Floriculture and Landscaping will now be known as the Division of Floriculture, Ornamental Breeding and Landscaping Innovation, while the Division of Fruit Sciences and the Division of Vegetable Sciences have been renamed to reflect a greater focus on breeding, technology and innovation.
The BoM approved the appointment of deans and directors in various academic and administrative positions, including those related to education, research, planning and monitoring, students’ welfare, and the faculties of agriculture, horticulture, veterinary sciences and fisheries.
It also cleared direct appointments of associate professors and professors across 14 departments and approved Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions for faculty members in 31 disciplines.
The Board further approved select recommendations of the Academic Council and discussed matters related to statutory amendments, according to the university.