FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, I.A.S.
Principal Secretary to Govt.
Higher Education Department


It is a moment of pride and joy to place in the hands of our esteemed readers’ first issue of 2nd year of quarterly news magazine of J&K Higher Education Department “J and K Higher Education Trends”. The intent of this newsletter is to give an overview of activities of Higher Education Department to our readers. We need to bring in advanced teaching techniques in our Colleges and Universities for achieving better results in higher education sector in tune with recent ICT trends. Our teaching fraternity has to evolve methodologies and to develop advanced teaching techniques to achieve better results in today’s rapidly changing education scenario. We have to bring in transformation in our students towards learning skills, promoting inter-disciplinary research, knowledge sharing, personality development and Career Counseling initiatives in all GDCs/ Universities among students to make J&K a hub of academic excellence for quality education. Knowledge needs to be made readily available to students through classroom teaching and our labs as well as through NKN/ EDUSAT and Distance education to far and nook corners of the State. Implementing content-based curriculum will not only strategically improvise quality of our lectures but also enforce their practical utility for our students.

Higher education sector should pave the way for students towards a successful and bright future; we should focus on providing equal access for all students for overall socio-economic development of the State. Our youth need to inculcate the habit of reading as a part of learning process in order to be well prepared for the competitive world.

Our consistent endeavor is to take Higher Education sector of our state to newer heights by improving equity, access and quality, by promoting academics, research, curriculum reforms, teacher training, infrastructure, co/extra -curricular activities to become amongst top ranking states in the Country in coming years. We have to create a conducive environment for carrying out quality research as well as teaching in our colleges, therefore we are finalizing a policy road map, knowledge townships, knowledge clusters, and more skill institutes in areas like Architecture, paramedical/ medical sciences and engineering sciences besides ICT initiatives, improvement of work culture that may go a long way in raising the standards learning and skills to greater heights.

J and K Higher Education Trends aims at keeping all stake holders informed about our initiatives / programs run by our colleges/Universities, by providing periodical and timely overviews to our readers. This news magazine also documents our endeavors and interventions in improving quality and infrastructure of Higher Education sector in our state besides dissemination of information about Central/ State Government schemes and reforms being carried out and disseminated across to all stakeholders to promote excellence in Higher Education.

Best Wishes!