J&K Universities Given Six Months to Implement ‘Design Your Degree’ Programme

JAMMU, Nov 5: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed universities across the Union Territory to implement the ‘Design Your Degree’ (DYD) programme within six months, calling for accelerated reforms to make higher education more flexible, multidisciplinary and aligned with emerging technological developmentas.

The direction was issued during a high-level meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Council (JKHEC), chaired by Sinha at Lok Bhavan on Wednesday. The meeting focused on preparing a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the higher education system, improving academic standards and ensuring that universities become more responsive to changing educational and employment requirements.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Education Minister Shamim Firdous, senior government officials, vice-chancellors of universities and heads of several prominent educational institutions attended the meeting.

Emphasising the need to move beyond policy discussions and achieve measurable progress, the Lieutenant Governor said initiatives undertaken by the Higher Education Council must translate into tangible benefits for students. He stressed that improving the quality of higher education was a shared responsibility of the government, universities and academic institutions.

The six-month deadline is intended to accelerate the implementation of the Design Your Degree framework, which seeks to provide students with greater flexibility in choosing academic subjects and shaping their educational pathways. The initiative is being pursued in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates multidisciplinary learning, skill development and greater flexibility in undergraduate and postgraduate education.

The proposed reforms are expected to encourage universities to reconsider conventional academic structures and introduce programmes that respond to students’ interests, professional aspirations and the changing demands of the job market.

A major area of discussion during the meeting was the need for greater cooperation among universities. Sinha called upon institutions to share academic credits, research laboratories, infrastructure and other available resources to improve the overall functioning of the higher education ecosystem.

Such collaboration could help institutions make better use of existing facilities while providing students and researchers access to academic resources beyond their respective campuses. It could also reduce the duplication of infrastructure and encourage universities to work together on research and innovation projects.

The Council also discussed restructuring undergraduate and postgraduate programmes according to the Design Your Degree framework. The exercise is expected to involve reviewing existing curricula, identifying areas that require modification and introducing greater flexibility in academic choices.

The National Education Policy 2020 places considerable emphasis on multidisciplinary education, allowing students to explore subjects across traditional academic boundaries. The proposed changes in Jammu and Kashmir are intended to bring university programmes closer to these objectives.

Artificial intelligence and data science also featured prominently in the discussions. The meeting examined the possibility of establishing a dedicated task force to work out ways of incorporating artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning and data science into undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.

The proposed inclusion of these subjects reflects the growing importance of digital technologies across industries, research institutions and public services. Educational institutions are increasingly being encouraged to equip students with technical knowledge and analytical skills that can help them adapt to technological changes.

Sinha stressed that universities must prepare students for emerging opportunities by introducing modern technologies into academic programmes. He also underlined the importance of strengthening research capabilities and encouraging innovation within campuses.

The integration of artificial intelligence into higher education is expected to require curriculum development, faculty training, access to suitable infrastructure and cooperation with specialised institutions. The proposed task force will be important in examining these requirements and developing an approach for introducing the subjects into university programmes.

At the same time, the Lieutenant Governor stressed that modernisation should not come at the cost of regional identity and cultural heritage. He called for academic programmes to reflect local languages, traditions and the specific needs of Jammu and Kashmir.

The emphasis on regional requirements is significant because universities in the Union Territory serve students from diverse geographical and social backgrounds. Incorporating local perspectives into teaching and research could help institutions address regional challenges while maintaining academic standards.

The meeting was attended by Vice-Chairman of the J&K Higher Education Council Professor Dinesh Singh, Acting Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Govind Jaiswal and Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma.

Vice-chancellors of the University of Jammu, University of Kashmir, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Central University of Kashmir, Central University of Jammu, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Cluster Universities also participated.

Representatives from IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu and NIT Srinagar were present, along with academic representatives from IIT Bombay and Delhi University’s Cluster Innovation Centre.

Their participation provided an opportunity to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between universities and specialised institutions, particularly in research, technological education and academic innovation.

The Council also reviewed ongoing initiatives, including Engineering Kitchens and entrepreneurship programmes. Discussions covered budgetary allocations and possible changes in the mechanism through which funds are distributed to higher education institutions.

The review of financial arrangements is an important component of the proposed reforms, as universities will need adequate resources to update curricula, strengthen laboratories, recruit specialised faculty and develop infrastructure.

Engineering Kitchens and entrepreneurship initiatives are also intended to encourage practical learning and innovation among students. Such programmes can provide opportunities to develop ideas, explore problem-solving approaches and understand the process of converting academic knowledge into practical applications.

The proposed reforms come at a time when higher education institutions across the country are working towards implementing different provisions of NEP 2020. Universities are increasingly being encouraged to introduce flexible degree structures, promote interdisciplinary research and improve connections between classroom learning and professional opportunities.

For Jammu and Kashmir, the six-month deadline places particular responsibility on universities to coordinate their efforts and prepare implementation plans without unnecessary delays.

The success of the initiative will depend on how effectively institutions translate the proposed framework into academic programmes. Curriculum changes, credit-sharing arrangements, faculty preparedness and the availability of technological resources will be among the important areas requiring attention.

Universities will also need to ensure that students understand the new academic options and receive appropriate guidance while selecting subjects and planning their degree programmes.

The Higher Education Council’s roadmap is expected to provide a common direction for institutions while allowing them to address their individual academic strengths and regional requirements.

By setting a clear timeline and emphasising cooperation, research and technology integration, the Lieutenant Governor has placed the focus on moving higher education reforms from policy discussions towards implementation.

The coming six months will therefore be important in determining how universities across Jammu and Kashmir adapt their academic structures and introduce the proposed changes under the Design Your Degree programme.