Govt mulling setting up centers of excellence in 10 degree colleges
Srinagar: In a significant development, the higher education department is mulling to develop one department each in 10 degree colleges of Kashmir division as centre of excellence.
In this regard, the department has chosen Amar Singh College, Government Degree College (GDC) Bemina, Women’s’ College Nawakadal, Women’s’ College M A road Srinagar, GDC Anantnag, GDC Kulgam, GDC Baramulla, GDC, Sopore and GDC Kupwara where the proposal will be put into practice.
These colleges have been chosen as the centre of excellence is to be developed in the oldest colleges of the Valley.
“The government is seriously thinking of declaring the reputed degree colleges of the state as centre of excellence for a particular fields of studies or academic programmes,” reads a letter sent to the college principals by the director colleges J&K.
These colleges have been selected considering their academic records from past years and the enrollment of the students.
“Your colleges are the reputed and oldest colleges of the state. You are requested to specifically propose your college for the development of centre of excellence in your college,” reads the letter.
However, the centre of the excellence will be set up after fulfilling certain parameters by the concerned colleges.
The college has to specifically nominate one department on the basis of which the institution will be developed as centre for excellence.
“The colleges have to mention and state their strength for being developed as centre of excellence and should furnish the requirement for becoming a centre of excellence for the subject or course proposed to the department,” reads a letter sent by the director colleges to the college principals.
As per the letter, one of the parameters to be fulfilled by the college should be that the course proposed for being developed as centre of excellence should be in public demand.
“Colleges shall be declared as centre of excellence for a particular subject or programme on the basis of its strength and local demands,” reads the letter.
The colleges which will be developed as centre of excellence will be supported by the government in their journey of becoming autonomous centres of excellence for various streams which include science, commerce, computers, humanities, fine arts, media studies, literature, languages, public administration, architecture and information technology.
Faculty members of the colleges have also been asked to put forth their suggestions in recommending the specific departments to be proposed to government for developing as centre of excellence.
KV Correspondent
