Turn increasing demand of professionals in global job market into an opportunity, CM tells University Heads

Rajouri: Asking policymakers to adapt to meet the burgeoning demand of professionals in the global job market, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today laid stress on broadening the scope of higher education in the State by starting market-driven courses in our Universities. For this, he observed that the education sector will have to reinvent academic courses to enhance placement of students who graduate from our institutes of higher learning. The Chief Minister said this while reviewing the functioning of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), here today. Minister for CA&PD, Ch. Zulfqar, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, Minister for Transport, A.G. Kohli, MLA Rajouri, MLA Nowshera, Ravinder Raina, Qamar Hussain, MLC, Surinder Chaudhary, DIG, P-R Range, A. K. Atri, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Deepti Uppal, SSP Rajouri, Haseeb Mughal, VC BGSBU, Prof. Irshad Hamal, former Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof. Amitabh Matoo, besides several senior functionaries of BGSBU were present on the occasion. Mufti Sayeed, who is also the Chancellor of the University, directed the concerned authorities to start evening classes in popular courses, which carry excellent chances of on- campus recruitment of university pass-outs. The Chief Minister further emphasized that modalities should be worked out for time-bound completion of infrastructural projects so that intake capacity of the students is increased. To achieve this, he stressed upon the need to identify a Government executing agency, which will complete the projects within the stipulated timelines. Earlier the Chief Minister, on his arrival at BGSBU, inaugurated the Academic Block for Arts & Social Science and Students’ Amenities Centre. He also laid the foundation stone of the Academic Block of the Hospitality & Tourism Centre. While interacted with the students at the Centre for Biodiversity Studies. Mufti Sayeed asked the Vice Chancellor to establish an on-campus Biotech Park, so that the students become bio-entrepreneurs in one of the most sought-after courses in upmarket job industry. The Chief Minister further emphasized upon extending all basic amenities to the students and teaching faculty who stay within the varsity campus. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education, laid stress on focusing on academics and placement of students in reputed private sector firms, where requirement of trained professionals is on the rise. For this, he stressed on full utilization of intake capacity of students in all streams and improvement in quality of education. In a detailed presentation, the Chief Minister was informed that around 1900 students are presently pursuing various courses in the University. As many as seven new postgraduate courses have been added to the existing curricula. Established in 2004, more than 30 per cent of all students in the University are girls.