SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said there is currently no proposal to establish or sanction a satellite campus of the University of Kashmir at Beerwah in Budgam district or at any other new location in the Union Territory.
The Higher Education Department made the disclosure in response to Un-Starred D. No. 1/6/166 tabled by Shafi Ahmad Wani, MLA from Beerwah, seeking the status and timeline for establishing a university campus in the area.
The government said the University of Kashmir currently operates its academic programmes through its Main Campus at Hazratbal in Srinagar, the Institute of Technology at Zakura in Srinagar, North Campus at Delina in Baramulla, South Campus at Fatehgarh in Anantnag and Kupwara Campus at Wayan.
It added that the university also has a Sub-Office at Bathindi in Jammu to strengthen its administrative and academic outreach across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the reply, the university is presently concentrating on optimising and upgrading its existing infrastructure rather than expanding to a new campus.
The areas of focus include modernisation of laboratories and equipment, introduction of employment- and skill-oriented academic programmes, promotion of self-sustaining initiatives and timely and effective utilisation of grants and institutional resources.
The government, however, said the university remained committed to expanding access to quality higher education in a balanced and sustainable manner, subject to its academic priorities and available resources.
The reply was issued by the Higher Education Department and signed by the Minister in charge and the Under Secretary to the Government.
