Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed today batted strongly for 'tailor' curricula in various academic programmes of the state universities to increase the possibilities of employment for pass-outs.
The Chief Minister said this while chairing a high-level meeting of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) here today, during which he took wide ranging decisions to improve the university's functioning.
"There is the need to revisit various academic programmes of the universities to 'tailor curricula' for enhancing the possibilities of employment of pass-outs in the world of cut-throat competition", Mufti said.
He also urged the policy planners to unlock the full potential of education as a driver for growth and jobs in and outside the state.
Mufti said the universities are coming under intense pressure to ensure that their graduates are employable, for which placement cells are urgently required to be activated.
"A full-fledged campus placement cell with independent officers has to be established both at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, so that graduates are readily absorbed in the ever-expanding job market," he said.
This was Mufti's first visit to the university after Prof Javed Mussarat took over as the new Vice Chancellor. The Chief Minister had last visited the University on June 6, earlier this year.
Asking planners to shift towards looking at skills and their effective utilization, the Chief Minister, also the Chancellor of the university, asked the VC to give him a blueprint of how he plans to revitalise the university and create strong linkages between education and jobs, which will spur placement of pass-outs.
To augment the requirement for paramedic staff for upcoming medical college at Rajouri, the Chief Minister asked VC to initiate the process of establishing a nursing college.
"The VC must also explore enhancing intake capacity of such courses which have a huge demand in the job market," he stated.
