Focus on Academic Preparedness and Student Welfare at Kashmir Division Principals’ Meet: Director Colleges

Baramulla, January 22: Building on the deliberations held during the recent Principals’ Meeting of Jammu Division colleges, the Department of Higher Education continued its divisional review process with a comprehensive meeting of Principals of all Government Degree Colleges of the Kashmir Division. The meeting was chaired by the Director Colleges, Prof. (Dr.) Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, and was aimed at assessing academic preparedness, reinforcing governance mechanisms and strengthening student-focused institutional practices across the Division.

The principal of the host institution, Prof. Mohd. Shafi Lone, Government Degree College Baramulla (Autonomous), extended a formal welcome to the participants and introduced the newly transferred Principals. It was highlighted that the decision to hold the first divisional meeting at an Autonomous college was a deliberate step to underscore the Department’s emphasis on academic autonomy, reflecting a clear policy direction towards expanding the number of autonomous institutions in the higher education sector in the near future.

In his address, the Director Colleges emphasised institutional cohesion, academic discipline and outcome-oriented governance as the foundational pillars for improving the quality of higher education. A detailed review of the Department’s digital governance was undertaken, reiterating the Planning & Development Portal of the Directorate of Colleges as the sole authenticated platform for institutional data, real-time reporting and delivery of online staff services. Principals were advised to ensure accuracy, regular updating and verification of institutional data to enable informed policy planning. It was also highlighted that the Department’s digital interventions, particularly the engagement of need-based Academic Arrangements during the current academic session, have been widely observed across colleges to significantly enhance operational efficiency, simplify processes and strengthen transparency.

The meeting reviewed college-wise performance under the Connect with Policy Planning & Development Initiative, with emphasis on timely data submission and institutional responsiveness. Principals were informed that sustained engagement in data-driven governance will continue to play a critical role in development and administrative decision-making.

Institutional development initiatives were deliberated in detail, including the functioning of Institutional Innovation Councils, the expansion of eYantra Labs, the implementation of SWAYAM Local Chapters for the promotion of blended education. The Action Taken Report (ATR) on eYantra was reviewed specifically, during which the Director Colleges directed all eYantra-enabled colleges to constitute one or more student teams for participation in the UT-level Hackathon proposed to be rolled out shortly, and participation of student teams trained by colleges in the national eYantra competitions organised and conducted by IIT Bombay.

Student welfare and engagement mechanisms received focused attention, particularly the strengthening of the Mentor–Mentee Programme for academic and psychosocial support, structured sports and co-curricular inclusive framework, and the Department’s institutional strategy for countering substance abuse through awareness, vigilance and early identification of vulnerabilities.

The SIGMA – Student Integrated Grievance and Messaging Application Portal was reviewed comprehensively, with college-wise registration performance shared. Principals were encouraged to further enhance student onboarding and effective utilisation of the platform to ensure secure and time-bound Messaging to students and timely grievance redressal.

In a major announcement, the Director Colleges informed the meeting about the rollout of the SCALE – Student Connect for Academic Leverage and Excellence initiative, envisioned as a comprehensive student outreach programme to offer continuous guidance on NEP-2020, academic mobility, progression pathways and career planning in all Government Degree Colleges.

The meeting also reviewed the status of ongoing developmental works being executed under various budget heads. Principals were advised to maintain close coordination with executing agencies and ensure regular monitoring of project timelines and quality parameters.

Concluding the deliberations, the Director Colleges reiterated that teaching and non-teaching staff are the primary drivers of institutional quality and urged Principals to cultivate a supportive and motivated work environment. He called upon all institutions to collectively advance the Department’s mission through transparency, accountability and student-centric governance, so that Government Degree Colleges of Jammu & Kashmir continue to emerge as vibrant centres of academic excellence and societal transformation.