Jammu, Feb 18: Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo on Wednesday said the government is focusing on augmenting infrastructure and faculty in the 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 from legislator Dr Sunil Bhardwaj in the Legislative Assembly.
The Education Minister said the Higher Education Department is committed to adopting innovative pedagogical practices and strengthening the culture of research and innovation within universities, while emphasising strict adherence by the University of Jammu to the approved academic calendar.
“Measures such as periodic monitoring of the teaching-learning process; promotion of faculty development and student-centric academic activities; phased adoption of smart classrooms; effective and timely utilisation of e-resources; digitisation of office procedures; prudent financial planning in line with norms; and maintenance and up-gradation of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and other facilities are being implemented for students’ benefit,” she said.
Itoo further said that the University of Jammu presently has eleven approved off-site campuses, of which seven 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 a consolidated grant-in-aid of Rs. 260 crore to the university for meeting its approved expenditure requirements. “The grant is released in a lump sum and is not earmarked for specific campuses or programmes,” she said, adding that the university itself manages the allocation and utilisation of funds for academic programs at these campuses.
The minister further said that measures are being undertaken in coordination with the university to strengthen and consolidate the academic, administrative, and infrastructural functioning of these campuses, including Ramnagar. The objective is to ensure balanced academic growth, optimal resource utilisation, and equitable expansion of higher education infrastructure across Jammu & Kashmir.
She added that the proposal for creating posts of Rector/Director and other faculty positions at these campuses is under examination by the Higher Education Department.
Several legislators, including Daleep Singh Parihar, R.S. Pathania, Balwant Singh Mankotia, and Shakti Raj Parihar, raised supplementary questions, which were satisfactorily addressed by the minister.
