To review the progress, implementation and future roadmap of the four year undergraduate program (FYUGP) under Design Your Degree (DYD) mode in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) -2020 a high-level meeting was held at University of Kashmir (KU) here on Wednesday.
The meeting was chaired by Vice Chancellor KU Prof. Nilofer Khan and was attended by key university officers including Dean Academic Affairs KU Prof Shariefuddin Pirzada, Registrar KU Prof. Naseer Iqbal, Controller Examinations KU Dr. Majid Zaman Baba, Dean School of Engineering Prof Muzaffar Andrabi, Director Admissions Prof. Fayaz Ahmed, Director IoT Zakura Campus Prof Tariq Banday and Coordinator DYD Centre KU Prof. Syeda Afshana.
While chairing the meeting VC KU Prof. Nilofer Khan emphasized the visionary nature of the DYD mode and its significance in reshaping higher education in the region.
"I was keen to launch this program as it represents the future of higher education—where students design their academic paths based on their skills and interests, rather than conforming to conventional course structures. I am pleased with the way the program is progressing and we are committed to expanding its infrastructure, engaging additional faculty and staff and ensuring that students receive the best possible learning experience,” said the Vice Chancellor.
During deliberations, the members discussed various aspects of the program’s implementation, recognizing that while DYD is a relatively new initiative, it holds great promise as a futuristic, skill-oriented and student-centric academic model. The discussions revolved around curriculum flexibility, mentorship student engagement and the integration of real-world applications in the learning process.
Prof. Syeda Afshana, in her detailed presentation, outlined the journey of the program since its inception a year ago. She highlighted the milestones achieved, challenges faced, and the way forward for enhancing the program’s impact.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on strengthening the program further by enhancing faculty resources, introducing interdisciplinary collaborations and increasing industry-academia partnerships.
The expansion of infrastructure, student outreach and research-driven experiential learning were also identified as key focus areas in the next phase of the program’s development.
