Ganderbal, Oct 12: The Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), on Monday inaugurated a two-day national workshop on “Reimagining Higher Education Administration for Viksit Bharat@2047”, bringing together academic administrators and university leaders to discuss governance reforms, digital transformation and institutional capacity-building.

The workshop, the first of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir, is being attended by representatives of 35 higher education institutions from 14 states.
In his presidential address, CUKashmir Vice-Chancellor Prof. A. Ravinder Nath stressed the need for institutional reforms, effective governance and strategic planning to strengthen higher education. He said universities must continuously reassess their administrative structures to support quality teaching, research, innovation and national development.
Highlighting the core functions of universities, he emphasised knowledge creation through research, dissemination through academics and application through outreach. He urged administrators to adopt progressive practices and strengthen institutional capacity to advance the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Central University of Rajasthan Vice-Chancellor Prof. Anand Bhalerao, the chief guest, said digital transformation must go beyond computerising existing administrative processes and focus on redesigning systems to improve teaching, research, innovation and student outcomes.
He called for a shift from hierarchical procedures to greater accountability, fragmented offices to integrated services, and physical files to digital workflows. Stressing that administrative reforms must precede technology adoption, he advocated simplified procedures, clear responsibilities, robust data systems, staff training and defined service standards.
Sharing his university’s experience, Prof. Bhalerao highlighted the role of data analytics and digital assessment in improving institutional performance, examination management and graduate outcomes. He said the university had reduced the time taken to declare examination results to five days after completion of final-paper assessment.
AIU Secretary General Dr. Pankaj Mittal, who joined online, congratulated CUKashmir for organising a workshop focused on university administrators, noting that such capacity-building initiatives were relatively uncommon.
Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, she called for meaningful multidisciplinary education, better internship opportunities, flexible entry and exit pathways, and effective implementation of the Academic Bank of Credits. She described registrars as key drivers of higher education reforms and stressed the need for their professional development and institutional support.
In his welcome address, CUKashmir Registrar Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir highlighted challenges relating to access, equity, quality, faculty availability, employability, infrastructure and the digital divide. He said NEP 2020 had expanded administrators’ responsibilities, requiring them to manage new academic structures, regulatory requirements, technological changes and evolving student expectations.
He urged participants to develop practical and collaborative solutions to common institutional challenges, emphasising the role of universities in economic growth, social progress and technological self-reliance.
The workshop will feature deliberations on contemporary administrative practices, technology-enabled governance, institutional planning, quality assurance, regulatory frameworks and capacity-building.
Dean Academic Affairs Prof. Shahid Rasool, deans of schools, the Controller of Examinations, Finance Officer and other senior university functionaries attended the inaugural session.
Deputy Registrar Dr. Javid Ahmad Wani conducted the proceedings, while Deputy Registrar Abdul Rashid Bhat presented the vote of thanks.