J&K Govt mulls to establish Skill University in UT

Srinagar, July 05: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is considering establishing a skill university in the Union Territory with guidance from Vishwakarma University Haryana. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting on Friday with key officials from the Skill Development Department and other administrative officials to explore this initiative. Vice Chancellor of Shri Vishwakarma Skill University Haryana, Dr. Raj Nehru, who participated in the meeting, highlighted Haryana’s successful model. “We made a presentation detailing how we conceptualized the institution in Haryana,” Dr. Nehru explained. He emphasized the importance of conducting youth aspiration surveys, industry aspiration surveys, and skill gap studies, which were pivotal in Haryana’s approach.
Dr Nehru highlighted the innovative models used in Haryana, such as the earn-while-you-learn program and the integration of skill education at the school level, which was approved by CBSE. “Haryana Skills University created India’s first school-innovation school and integrated recognition of prior learning in higher education,” he added. Dr. Nehru suggested similar steps for J&K, including conducting a current skill gap study, mapping youth aspirations, and attracting industries through incentivizing policies. “We invited the J&K team to visit our campus and examine our model,” he said, noting Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo’s interest in collaboration. Chief Secretary Dulloo outlined steps to create an enabling ecosystem for skill development in J&K. “It is imperative to create genuine platforms through necessary policies and regulations,” he stressed, citing examples from medical, engineering, and agricultural fields. He encouraged stakeholders to visit SVSU Haryana to formulate effective strategies for J&K’s skill development. VC Raj Nehru shared insights into SVSU’s curriculum aligned with industry needs. “Our courses focus on competencies required for employment and career advancement,” he noted, highlighting the university’s outcome-driven approach. It was informed that the University aims at nurturing skill development in candidates right from KG to PG level. Besides, the curriculum for each course had been designed and developed in consultation with the concerned Industrial set-up itself. He further said that they conducted a youth aspiration survey, an industry aspiration survey, and a skill gap study in Haryana. “Based on these, we created a vision document and sent our proposal to the Haryana government, which approved and sanctioned 425 crore for the project,” he added. The meeting concluded with plans to develop a strategy paper to assist in the design and development of the Skill University in J&K, reflecting collaborative efforts between J&K and SVSU Haryana.