SRINAGAR: The Kashmir University’s satellite campus in remote Kupwara district has struggled to draw students for three courses initiated this academic session, rendering the facility virtually non-operational more than a decade after its establishment.
According to sources familiar with admissions, the MSc program in Energy Studies has enrolled only one student out of the 30 allocated seats, while the MSc program in Physics has attracted six students out of the 30 allocated seats.
These two courses were introduced by the University after making a case before the University Council, led by LG, that these were “futuristic” and “market-driven” based on the University’s assessment, as per sources from the news agency KNO.
The poor response to these two courses challenges the University’s argument and raises questions about the quality of its preparation before launching new courses, the sources noted.
“The entrance test for these two courses was conducted in June, but since then, the Campus has been unable to fill the vacant seats,” stated an anonymous official at KU.
The University also initiated an integrated BA-MA program in Arabic at the Kupwara Campus in this academic session but faced challenges in attracting students, despite keeping the eligibility open for all 10+2 passouts.
On November 21, the Director of Kupwara Campus issued a fresh notification for spot admission to the BA-MA program in Arabic, inviting any 10+2 applicant interested in joining the course.
This notification came after the Director of Admissions officially declared the closure of all admissions from November 13, following an almost seven-month-long admission process, a first in the University’s history.
“Calling for spot admissions compromises academic standards. It is preferable to discontinue these courses rather than admit anyone, even with lower merit. This is not how campuses should be managed. It’s a waste of resources and finances,” said an anonymous academician.
He emphasized that campuses cannot thrive with only two or three candidates per course. “If there isn’t enough student enrollment in a remote campus like Kupwara, it will deplete the University’s funds without any substantial returns.”
Despite the Kupwara Campus being sanctioned over a decade ago to bring higher education to local aspirants, the University has struggled to introduce courses that attract significant student numbers, despite substantial infrastructure investment.
One reason for the delay in course commencement and the poor response to admissions is attributed to official apathy. The Kupwara Campus has never had a full-fledged Director dedicated to its affairs and management. Currently, the Campus is overseen by a Professor who is also heading his parent department at the Main Campus in Srinagar.
“Will the In-Charge Director prioritize his own department at the Main Campus or the Kupwara Campus located more than 100 km away?” questioned the sources, adding that the lack of sufficient supervision contributes to the Campus’s academic deterioration.
Many argue that the J&K Higher Education Council, led by LG Manoj Sinha, should urgently address declining admissions at KU campuses and make necessary corrections to prevent the misuse of human resources and infrastructure. (KNO)
