SRINAGAR: The President of India, in her capacity as the Visitor of the newly established Sindhu Central University, has appointed Prof Rajeev Rattan Sharma, a senior academic from the University of Jammu, as the first Vice Chancellor of the Central University in Ladakh. He will serve a five-year term from the date he assumes office or until attaining the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
The appointment was notified by the Union Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education through an order issued on Friday. As per the notification, Prof. Sharma’s terms and conditions of service will be governed by the provisions of the Sindhu Central University Act, its Statutes and Ordinances.
Sharma becomes the founding Vice Chancellor of Sindhu Central University, making him responsible for establishing the academic, administrative and institutional framework of the country’s newest Central University. The university, created by an Act of Parliament, is expected to play a key role in expanding higher education and research opportunities in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
A senior Professor in the Department of Education at the University of Jammu, Prof Sharma brings extensive academic and administrative experience to the new assignment. During his career, he has served as Head of the Department of Education for two terms, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Director of the College Development Council and Provost of Hostels at the University of Jammu.
He has also been associated with several academic and statutory bodies of universities, including serving as a member of the Syndicate of both the University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir, besides participating in various academic councils and university governance bodies at the state and national levels.
The appointment comes as the Centre moves to operationalise Sindhu Central University, which is being mentored by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur during its formative phase.
Sindhu Central University was established to strengthen access to higher education in Ladakh and to promote teaching, research and innovation in disciplines relevant to the Himalayan region. Prof Sharma’s appointment marks the first major leadership decision in the university’s institutional development.
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