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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: An expert review committee meeting of the Design Your Degree (DYD) program implemented at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) chaired by Prof. Dinesh Singh, Chairman, Executive Committee, Jammu & Kashmir, Higher Education Council (JKHEC), along with external members from the Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC), New Delhi was successfully conducted.
The delegation from CIC, New Delhi included Prof. Shobha Bagai, Director, CIC Delhi; Dr. Saleem Mir, Convenor, Teachers Training Program CIC; Dr. J. S. Purohit, Associate Professor CIC; and Dr. Asani Bhaduri, Program Coordinator, B.Tech, CIC accompanied by Prof. Kuldeep S. Charak, member of the DYD Team from Department of Mathematics, University of Jammu; accompanied by a team of faculty members associated with the DYD program, being run at the University of Jammu, were also present in the meeting.
Welcoming the distinguished committee, Prof. Pragti Kumar, Honorable Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU apprised the members that the DYD program was launched at SMVDU in 2024 with the vision to inculcate experiential learning and to shift from conventional single-discipline structures to a multidisciplinary and innovative pedagogical framework.
He underscored that the program envisages nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. Prof. Shobha Bagai, held extensive detailed interactions with DYD students admitted in session 2024 & 2025. The students showcased their projects and presentations and engaged in one-to-one interactions with the review members, elaborating how the program differs from traditional academic structures and offers wider vistas of interdisciplinary learning.
The members from CIC Delhi, shared their inputs and experiences gained from their long association with the DYD programs being run at CIC, Delhi and various other institutes across India. They also shared a list of prospective innovative projects for the students to work upon in the forthcoming duration.In his interaction with students, Prof. Dinesh Singh, stressed that innovation and experimentation remain the defining hallmarks of the DYD initiative and encouraged students to adopt a practical, hands-on approach to learning.
He held extensive deliberations with faculty members on curriculum design and pedagogical innovations to align closely with the progressive vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and applauded faculty members for their role in steering the DYD program at SMVDU in right direction with commitment, creativity, and academic integrity. Prof. Singh revealed the upcoming plans identified by JKHEC that will provide platforms for DYD students across institutions to showcase their achievements.
Also present were Dr. Sharada M. Potukuchi, Nodal Officer, DYD; members of the DYD Core Committee including Prof. Sumeet Gupta, Dr. Rashi Taggar, Dr. Meenakshi Gupta, Dr. Sandeep Bhougal, Dr. Isha Malhotra, Dr. Mir Irfan, Dr. Pankaj Biswas; and Faculty Coordinators taking diverse courses, Dr. Sunanda, Dr. Manpreet, Dr. Sanna Mirza, of the DYD program; Dr. Shafaq Rasool, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs who participated in the deliberations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the framework and delivery of the program. The review meeting concluded with a collective commitment to further enrich and consolidate the DYD framework at SMVDU, ensuring that the program continues to expand academic choice, empower learners, and advance the University’s vision for innovative and flexible higher education.
