Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today called for linking higher educational institutions with leading business houses and conducting employment fairs for educated youths.
"Higher educational institutions, particularly universities, should link up with the leading players in the fields of industry, science, technology, IT and other related disciplines and include subjects of their requirement in the curriculum," Omar said.
He was addressing students in Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) in Rajouri district on its Foundation Day.
"Employment fairs by leading business houses should become a regular activity in universities. I have already spoken to some leading business houses of the country in this regard and would talk to others too," he said.
The Chief Minister said the steps taken by his government to enhance opportunities for students in science and technology during the last five years have given considerable fillip to accessibility for higher education in the state.
Opening and upgrading various university campuses, Degree and Technical Colleges and Polytechnics in the state has also made it possible for youths to receive modern education near to their homes, he said.
"This has also catapulted the employability of the students to get lucrative and remunerative jobs in the open job market," he said.
Omar asked the students to acquaint themselves with the initiatives of Udaan and Himayat programmes sponsored exclusively in Jammu and Kashmir by the Centre to create opportunity of jobs for the educated youth of the state in private sectors all across the country.
"You should avail this opportunity as it is only for Jammu and Kashmir and no other state in the country has this programme," he said, impressing upon the students to explore possibilities of attaining gainful employment through these schemes after completion of studies.
