Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo today said that the government is focusing on augmentation of infrastructure and faculty in operational offsite campuses of Jammu University (JU) at Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramnagar, Kathua and Poonch.
The Minister said this while replying to a question of Legislator Dr. Sunil Bhardwaj in the Legislative Assembly.
The Education Minister said that the Higher Education Department is committed to adopt innovative pedagogical practices and strengthening of culture of research and innovation within the universities, while placing emphasis on strict adherence by the University of Jammu to the approved Academic Calendar. She added that measures like periodic monitoring of teaching-learning process; promotion of faculty development and student-centric academic activities; phased adoption of Smart Classrooms and effective and timely utilization of e-resources; streamlining of office procedures through digitization of records; prudent financial planning in conformity with prescribed financial norms along with time-bound maintenance and up-gradation of classrooms, laboratories, libraries and other facilities are being implemented for the benefit of students.
The Minister further said that the University of Jammu presently has eleven off-site campuses approved by the University Council, of which, currently seven campuses are operational at Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramnagar, Kathua, and Poonch.
She informed that for the Financial Year 2025-2026, the Higher Education Department has allocated consolidated Grant-in-Aid amounting Rs. 260 crore to the University of Jammu for meeting its duly approved expenditure requirements. She added that the Grant-in-Aid is released in lump sum and is not earmarked campus-wise or academic programmes-wise at the level of Higher Education Department.
She said that the internal apportionment and utilization of funds, including allocation towards academic programmes at functional off-site campuses, is undertaken by the University of Jammu.
The Education Minister further said that measures are being undertaken in coordination with the University of Jammu to strengthen and consolidate the academic, administrative and infrastructural functioning of the functional off-site campuses including Ramnagar Campus. The objective behind the initiatives is to ensure a balanced academic growth, optimal utilization of resources and equitable expansion of higher education infrastructure across Jammu & Kashmir.
She said that the proposal concerning creation of the posts of Rector/Director and other Teaching Faculty positions in respect of the functional Off-site Campuses is under examination in Higher Education Department.
Legislators, Daleep Singh Parihar, R.S Pathania, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Shakti Raj Parihar raised various supplementary questions, which were satisfactorily replied by the Minister.