New Delhi, Dec 26: The 31^st meeting of the Executive Council (EC), highest statutory decision-making body of the Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), was held here today with Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath in chair.

The meeting was attended by Prof. Vandana Mishra, Centre of Comparative Politics & Political Theory, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi, Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Jammu, Prof. Ajay Kumar Singh, Department of Commerce, School of Economics, University of Delhi, Dr. Mriganka Sekhar Sarma, Deputy Secretary, UGC, Shri Shantmanu, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, J&K, Prof Shahid Rasool, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Mir, Dean, School of Legal Studies, CUKashmir, Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, Dean, International Affairs, CUKashmir and Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, Registrar (Secretary). Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir presented the meeting agenda.

Welcoming the members, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath underscored the University’s commitment to academic excellence, and inclusive growth. “CUKashmir, though relatively young, has steadily evolved into a vibrant centre of learning. Our focus remains on strengthening academic foundations, promoting research-driven innovation, and ensuring student-centric governance,” he said. He stated that the guidance received from the Council would play a crucial role in shaping policy decisions and strategic initiatives in the coming years.

The meeting held thoughtful deliberations on a wide range of academic, administrative, financial, and developmental matters, reaffirming the University’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

The Council took a comprehensive review of the University’s progress and future roadmap. The deliberations were marked by a shared resolve to further strengthen the institutional framework of CUKashmir and to position it as a forward-looking centre of learning that meaningfully responds to contemporary societal challenges and economic needs.

The Council approved the launch of new Schools, Departments, and academic programmes aimed at broadening the University’s academic canvas. These include the establishment of the School of Multidisciplinary Studies and the School of Skill Studies, both envisioned as key drivers in fostering holistic education, innovation, and employability. The Executive Council members lauded the sustained efforts of the University in integrating skill components across all its existing academic programmes.

The EC also approved the creation of a Department of Psychology, recognizing the growing relevance of psychological studies in addressing individual and societal challenges in a rapidly changing world.

Further strengthening its postgraduate portfolio, the Executive Council gave its nod to the introduction of new programmes, including the MBA (Executive) programme, Master’s in Educational Technology, and Master’s in Educational Administration. These programmes are designed to cater to working professionals, educators, administrators, and aspiring leaders, thereby expanding access to quality higher education while responding to emerging demands in governance, technology-enabled learning, and educational leadership.

The Council was informed that the varsity has taken up the matter with the Srinagar Development Authority for allotment of land for a City Office and Guest House near Srinagar Airport.

The Executive Council members lauded the sustained efforts of the University in integrating skill components across all its existing academic programmes.

In another significant decision, the Executive Council approved the adoption of the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) and cleared the University’s proposal to launch Apprenticeship Embedded Undergraduate Programmes under NATS. This step marks a major stride towards strengthening industry-academia linkages and providing students with structured, hands-on training opportunities as an integral part of their academic journey. The EC noted that apprenticeship-embedded programmes would enhance students’ employability, industry readiness, and real-world exposure, thereby creating a win-win ecosystem for learners, institutions, and employers alike.

The Executive Council also placed on record its deep appreciation for the proactive and sustained efforts of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, in successfully pursuing and securing the sanction of grants, in project mode, from the Ministry of Education for infrastructural development of the University. The members acknowledged that these grants would significantly augment the University’s physical and academic infrastructure, creating an enabling environment for teaching, research, and innovation.

The EC members expressed their gratitude to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education for their continued financial support and guidance, noting that such support plays a crucial role in strengthening public universities and advancing the national higher education agenda. They made a fervent appeal to the UT administration for starting work on road connectivity for the Tulmulla campus. The additional chief secretary noted the request and assured to take it up with the UT administration.

Prof. Sandhya Tiwari proposed the vote of thanks.