SRINAGAR: In a groundbreaking initiative set to transform higher education in Jammu and Kashmir, the establishment of the region’s first crowdfunded university, The University of WathHarbor, has been officially announced. The proposed institution will be a university by the people, for the people, and of the people, built entirely on public contributions and collective effort, making it the first of its kind in the region.
The university will focus on cutting-edge disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, aiming to equip Kashmir’s youth with globally competitive skills. Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, project leaders stressed that this would not be a profit-driven private university but rather a community-driven institution dedicated to education, research, and social empowerment.
Jammu and Kashmir currently has 11 government universities catering to approximately 1.5 lakh students, but lacks significant private sector involvement in higher education. As a result, thousands of students leave the Union Territory every year to pursue higher studies elsewhere. The University of WathHarbor aims to offer world-class education within the region, reducing academic migration and fostering local talent.
To make this ambitious project a reality, the university’s founders have urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to allocate 25 acres of land on a 99-year lease at a nominal fee, similar to policies in states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. They have also called for the enactment of a Private University Act in Jammu and Kashmir to provide legal backing for institutions like this.
Funding for the university will rely on donations, Corporate Social Responsibility contributions, and community support. The founders have urged businesses, professionals, and the Kashmiri diaspora to contribute to this historic movement for self-reliance and educational empowerment. Dr Mehboob Makhdoomi, the founder of the initiative, said this is not just about education but about self-reliance, empowerment, and shaping Kashmir’s future, inviting everyone to be part of the movement.
With strong public participation and government support, The University of WathHarbor aspires to become a global hub for research, innovation, and skill development. The university’s board comprises a distinguished group of academicians, professionals, and social leaders, including Dr Mehboob Makhdoomi, Founder and Chairman of the Trust; Dr Mushtaq Marghoob, Trustee and Former Professor and Head of the PG Department of Psychiatry at GMC; Syed Humayun Qaiser, Trustee and Spokesperson, and Former Director of Radio Kashmir; poet and social activist Zareef Ahmad Zareef; Syed Parvez Qalander, Consultant and Chartered Engineer; Latief U Zaman Deva, retired IAS officer and Former Chairperson of JKPSC; Khair Ul Nisa Sheikh, Principal Advisor to the Chairman and Executive Director of World Trade Center, India; Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan, Media Coordinator, TV Producer and Filmmaker; Riyaz Ahmad Shoga, Accounts Officer, Former Banker, and Social Worker; G N Var, President of the Private School Association; and Faheem Abdullah, an artist.
