Srinagar, Nov 16: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Chancellor and internationally acclaimed scientist, Dr. Srikumar Banerjee on Friday strongly advocated for establishment and subsequent development of the varsity (CUK) as an institute of repute and center par excellence not only in India, but in the world.
 “The Central University should provide a good platform for local youth and students from other States to become excellent professionals in order to fill the vacuum existing in different fields,” Dr Banerjee said while interacting with the faculty at University’s transit campus at Sonwar here.
 Dr Banerjee arrived here on his maiden visit on Thursday after being appointed as the Chancellor of CUK by the President of India, in his capacity as Visitor of the University. 
 Dr. Banerjee has worked in several prestigious institutions and has been the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India (AECI). He is one of the leading experts in material Science and Technology in India and has made outstanding contributions to many materials related areas, basic as well as application oriented and has published more than 300 scientific papers in reputed international and national journals. Dr. Banerjee has been the recipient of many awards including the prestigious Padma Shri award.
 Dr. Banerjee asked the faculty members, research scholars and students to give their valuable inputs about future plans and roadmap of the University. “The faculty and students should also contribute immensely towards the growth and development of the institution,” he said.
 “You should have a vision about the shaping up of this University. The University should make every possible effort to provide quality education to the students. The size of the varsity doesn’t matter. We should be more concerned about the quality education,” he added.
 He suggested that the University should develop linkages with other educational institutions so that the students could get access to the knowledge base available there and “Kashmir has a distinctive architecture which should be kept in mind before finalizing the master plan of the University,” he said.
 Dr Banerjee hoped that the Central University would be able to create a brand image across the globe as has done by the IITs and IIMs. “The CUs have been established on the pattern of IITs in order to provide better education to those wishing to pursue higher studies,” he said.
 Dr Banerjee said that there has been a paradigm shift and India is now known as knowledge based society and that Indian diaspora is also contributing immensely towards the Indian economy.
 While welcoming the Chancellor, CUK Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdul Wahid gave a brief account of the activities of the University and its future plans. He said that the varsity is presently offering ten different courses to the students who were selected through the All India level entrance examination (CUCET-2012).
 Prof Wahid said the University has appointed faculty after strictly following the UGC guidelines. He said the University would add more courses in coming years and the work on the campus at Ganderbal would start soon.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:00:00 IST