CUK holds first convocation; Vohra appeals academics to research for state’s progress

Srinagar, July 4: Governor N N Vohra on Wednesday stressed on the academicians to carry out the research for solving the state’s problems.
In his presidential address on 1st convocation of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) at SK International Conference Centre here, Vohra said, “The state is facing a lot of challenges. There are several geographic disadvantages and historical challenges and not all of are our making.”
He stressed on the academicians to carry out the research on host of problems that the state was facing.
“I have been suggesting to vice chancellors of universities that relevance and importance of universities is over. The research has to be carried out related to problems that the state is facing,” he said.
Pointing out some of the challenges the state was facing, he said, “There are host of problems like climatic change, preservation of water bodies, Wular and Dal Lake, biodiversity, master plans and other issues.”
“How many institutions like universities and higher education institutions carry out research on these issues,” he asked.
On the occasion, the students were also presented degrees and medals. However, some of the students did not stand during the playing of the national anthem.
Professor Dr K Vijay Raghavan scientific advisor to government was the chief guest, while Professor Srikumar Banerjee, former chairman Atomic Energy Commission Government of India and founding vice-chancellor of CUK was guest of honour. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, former ministers, Mian Altaf, Naeem Akhtar, Mohammad Akbar Lone, incumbent and former vice-chancellors of universities, and senior officials were present on the occasion.
Vohra said that he suggested to vice chancellors to get larger number of senior students involved in capacity building.
“We can’t leave this (research) competition. Each student has to carry out certain responsibilities. They have to contribute towards growing development at village, district, state level, and national level,” he said.
This he said was possible if teachers and students with the “capacity to change themselves towards problem-solving evolution”. “Some changes are happening in universities. There is no dearth of capacity.”
After the establishment of CUK, he said that the varsity faced a lot of challenges. “There was shortage of faculties, paucity of resources. The state would not help much and UGC found it difficult to provide any help because we did not qualify as we not had requisite facilities. There were no professors and laboratories.. Now the CUK has 150 faculty and there will be 3000 students by the end of this year.”
However, he said the vice chancellors had been holding interactions to help to each other.
Raghavan said that CUK has made a “commendable” contribution in the areas of teaching, research, and extension. “We may need to adopt a balance research approach in the area of research and development so that research is not carried out for getting out mere degrees.”
Vice Chancellor CUK, Professor Mehraj ud Din Mir highlighted the university report 2009-2018.
However, he pointed out several issues that the varsity has been facing.
“We have been organizing conferences and libraries are running in rented buildings. Students also avail facilities at Kashmir University and NIT,” he said.