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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at KATRA: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) held its 37th Academic Council meeting.The meeting was presided over by the Honourable Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pragati Kumar, SMVDU. The meeting was attended by eminent academicians, including Prof. Sandeep Sancheti, Vice President of Research Relations & Academic Affairs at Elsevier (India), and Prof. Anju Bhasin, Dean of Academic Affairs, University of Jammu.
Other external members Prof. Majid Jamil from Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, Prof. S.K. Verma from BITS Pilani, Prof. Rina Surana from MNIT (Jaipur), Prof. Pranavant and Prof. Madhusudan Singh (DTU, Delhi) joined the meeting in virtual mode. Registrar, Finance officer, Deans and Heads of various schools of SMVDU, Faculty Incharge Examination, CEO TBIC, Program Coordinators of DYD and B. Design were also present to deliberate on the academic reforms and initiatives.
The meeting was focused on key academic decisions and new initiatives aimed to strengthen the university's educational framework. The meeting started with a welcome note followed by introductory remarks by the Honourable Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU highlighting the university’s achievements over the past year. Prof. Kumar emphasized the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, research development, and student-centric policies.
The agenda items for discussion were presented by Prof. Balbir Singh, Dean of Academic Affairs and Dr. Shafaq Rasool, Assoc. Dean, Academic Affairs, leading to several significant decisions. The council approved the inclusion of B.Sc. Computer Science as a major under the ‘Design Your Degree’ program, allowing students greater flexibility in tailoring their academic pathways. Another key development was the approval of ordinances governing the SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) and its associate hospital, marking an important step in strengthening medical education and healthcare services at the university.
Further, it was decided that a new postgraduate program, M.Sc. Chemistry will be introduced from the 2025-26 academic session, expanding the university’s offerings in the sciences. The council also deliberated on introducing B. Tech programs in Robotics & Automation, Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence and M. Arch programs aimed at equipping students with skills to meet the demands of the 21st Century. The 37th Academic Council meeting marked another milestone in SMVDU’s pursuit of academic excellence and institutional growth. With these developments, SMVDU continues to strengthen its position as a leading institution committed to quality education, academic innovation and research-driven education.
