SRINAGAR: The 36th University Council meeting of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Wednesday approved a series of institutional reforms and considered an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming the university into a globally competitive, innovation-driven agricultural institution.
The meeting, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan, was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, senior government officials, representatives of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), NITI Aayog, and the leadership of SKUAST-K and SKUAST-Jammu.
Among the key decisions, the University Council approved the upgradation of the Agricultural Research Information System into a Directorate of Information Technology and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell into a Directorate of Quality Assurance. It also approved the establishment of an International Students Cell to strengthen global outreach and support services for students from outside the country.
The council also reviewed three major initiatives proposed as part of the university’s long-term development strategy. These include the establishment of a Centre for Agri Innovation, Analytics and Certification to function as a National Reference Laboratory, creation of an Agri-Startup Park to support and host more than 50 startup enterprises, and the setting up of a Global Veterinary School aimed at providing internationally benchmarked veterinary education, research and advanced clinical services.
Addressing the meeting, Lieutenant Governor Sinha praised the university’s progress in academics, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and international collaborations. He said the institution’s ongoing initiatives have the potential to position SKUAST-K as a leading agricultural university with a global outlook.
The Lieutenant Governor also directed the university administration to ensure that meetings of the University Council are held regularly, at least twice every year, to facilitate timely review of academic and administrative matters.
Presenting the university report, Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai outlined SKUAST-K’s transformation from a regionally focused institution into a nationally recognised university with ambitions of achieving global competitiveness in agricultural and allied sciences.
Prof Ganai informed the council that the university has significantly improved its national rankings and has developed what he described as the largest startup ecosystem among higher educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the university has secured 123 intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks and designs, reflecting a growing emphasis on innovation and translational research.
He further noted that nearly 30 per cent of the university’s students now come from outside Jammu and Kashmir, indicating expanding national outreach and a growing academic reputation.
Senior officials from the Agriculture Production Department, Finance Department, Planning Development and Monitoring Department, ICAR and NITI Aayog also participated in the meeting and reviewed the university’s achievements and future plans.
