Ladakh plans higher education revamp, focus on skills and employability
Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today chaired a meeting on higher education at the LAHDC Conference Hall, Leh, to assess the functioning of colleges and universities, address faculty vacancies, improve student enrolment and explore the introduction of specialised, skill-based and employment-oriented courses across Ladakh.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Planning, Himanshu Gupta; Secretary, School Education, Bhanu Prabha; Vice Chancellor, University of Ladakh, Prof. Saket Kushwaha; Dean, College Development Council, Tsewang Motup; principals of colleges in Leh, Kargil, Khaltsi, Nubra, Drass and Zanskar; senior faculty members, deans, award-winning teachers and other concerned officials.
During the meeting, Dean, College Development Council, Dr. Tsewang Motup, presented a comprehensive overview of higher education in Ladakh, covering Sindhu Central University, the University of Ladakh and the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS).
The presentation highlighted college-wise sanctioned, filled and vacant teaching posts, faculty deputation to the University of Ladakh, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) trends over the past five years, student retention, transition from schools to colleges and measures to improve enrolment.
The Chief Secretary held detailed deliberations on faculty availability, recruitment, course offerings and enrolment across colleges. Secretary, School Education, informed the meeting that stakeholder feedback was being sought on the draft Recruitment Rules for the Common Teaching Cadre, including Assistant Professor posts, before the proposal is forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after October 15.
The meeting also examined college-wise enrolment, admission trends and the availability of courses in remote areas, including Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra and Drass. The Chief Secretary emphasised the need for a comprehensive assessment of institutional capacity and student demand to strengthen existing colleges and ensure equitable access to quality higher education across the Union Territory.
Underscoring the importance of linking education with local needs and employment opportunities, the Chief Secretary called for exploring specialised courses in agriculture, horticulture, nursing, teacher education, hotel management, fashion technology and other professional fields relevant to Ladakh. He stressed that course planning should be based on student demand, regional potential, faculty availability and employment prospects, with opportunities for private-sector participation also being examined.
The meeting further discussed strengthening competitive examination coaching, improving career counselling, promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing industry exposure for students. The Chief Secretary stressed the need to make effective use of available faculty expertise and explore academic programmes that enable students to pursue higher education and professional opportunities within Ladakh.
Emphasising the importance of measurable educational outcomes, the Chief Secretary called for a mechanism to track students after graduation and assess their progression into higher studies, competitive examinations and employment. He also stressed the need to strengthen practical learning, exposure to modern technologies and awareness of relevant government schemes.
The Chief Secretary encouraged research and academic projects focused on Ladakh-specific priorities, including agriculture, floriculture, market linkages and local economic development. He emphasised that higher education institutions should strengthen their academic offerings in line with the region’s socio-economic requirements and emerging opportunities.
The meeting focused on developing a coordinated approach to address faculty shortages, improve enrolment and retention, rationalise course offerings where necessary, and expand access to relevant, quality and employment-oriented higher education across Ladakh.