Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath on Monday unveiled the poster of forthcoming two-week Capacity Building Programme (CBP) on “Academic and Research Excellence in Higher Education”, scheduled from 27th October to 7th November 2025 at the Tulmulla campus.

The programme sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi will focus on research methodologies, the Indian Knowledge System, Artificial Intelligence tools, and academic writing excellence. Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, Dean School of Languages being the recipient of the grant is the Course Director. 

Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, Registrar, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, and Dean School of Education, Prof. Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, were also present during the unveiling of the poster.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, who is the Chief Patron of the programme emphasized the role of such academic initiatives in nurturing a culture of intellectual curiosity, innovative research, and pedagogical excellence and congratulated course Director for her efforts in this direction. 

Subsequently, the Course Director, Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, said, the unveiling marks the launch of an academic endeavour of utmost importance. She underscored the significance of academic training initiatives in strengthening higher education in the country. The Registrar, the Dean, Academic Affairs and the Dean, School of Education expressed their happiness and support in the successful culmination of the two week programme.

Dr Firdous Sofal, School of Education, is the Course Co- Director.

Sonamarg: Department of Tourism Studies (DTS), Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), in collaboration with the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA), celebrated World Tourism Day on the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” at the Sonamarg club.

Speaking on the occasion, Dean School of Business Studies, Prof. Syed Zahoor Gilani, emphasised the need to protect the eco-fragile environment of Sonamarg by laying more thrust on sustainable tourism practices (STPs) to keep something for posterity. He insisted that the concerned Govt agencies and other tourism stakeholders must unite to make Sonamarg a plastic and pollution-free destination. He talked about the role of universities in implementing NEP-2020 in order to meet the skill gap in the tourism and hospitality industry through intensive vocationalisation of the academic programmes offered by the university to meet the market demand.

In her address, Chief Executive Officer-SDA, Ms Mantasha Binti Rashid, highlighted the role and initiatives taken by the Authority in the preservation of Sonamarg. “SDA is making every effort to maintain the carrying capacity and supply-demand of the destination,” she said. She stressed the revival of indigenous sustainable practices like the use of home-made manure for kitchen gardens, the use of pool transport and laid thrust on the process of glocalisation. She impressed upon the different tourism stakeholders to make Sonamarg the topmost tourism destination of the country.

Coordinator, DTS, Dr. Ashaq Hussain Najar, highlighted the role of academia in sensitising the tourism stakeholders about the eco-friendly practices that need to be put in place in hotels of Sonamarg and briefed about the need for ‘green investments’ in the tourism and hospitality industry by emphasising the important case studies of Ladakh and Kerala.

During the seminar, there was a threadbare panel discussion on the theme ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’ where the faculty members and people from the tourism and hospitality industry actively participated. Dr. Ramjit and Dr. Faizan Ashraf Mir (Sr. Asst Profs) Mr. Shahid, GM-Four Points by Sheraton, and many others shared their inputs and views. During the discussion, panellists answered several questions that were posed by the scholars, students of MBA-TTM and B.Voc THM and other tourism stakeholders.

Dr. Faizan Ashraf Mir moderated the panel discussion.

Sr. Asst Prof. Dr. Shahnaz Akhter moderated the event, while Asst Prof. Dr. Adil Amin Nazki proposed the vote of thanks.