Move beyond marks, embrace research and innovation: JU VC Umesh Rai on 58th foundation day

The University of Jammu celebrated its 58th Foundation Day with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai calling upon the University fraternity to move beyond conventional, marks-oriented education and build an academic ecosystem centred on problem-solving, project-based learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and societal relevance.

Addressing the gathering, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Umesh Rai said the 58th Foundation Day was not merely an occasion to celebrate the University’s journey, but also a moment to reflect on the kind of institution it must become for the generations ahead.

He said the University of Jammu had reached a stage where it must move beyond following established models and have the confidence to create new ones for higher education.

Emphasising project-based and interdisciplinary learning, the Vice-Chancellor said students from different disciplines should be encouraged to work together on real-life problems. He said the University had already begun experimenting with such approaches and urged faculty members to make project-mode learning an integral part of curriculum design. Assessment, too, must evolve to recognise both collaborative work and individual contribution.

He cautioned that innovative programmes should not eventually slip back into conventional teaching practices. “Please do not take it towards rote learning. Take it towards project-mode learning and real-life problem-solving,” he told the academic fraternity.

Placing research at the heart of the University’s future, Prof. Rai said the institution had witnessed encouraging growth in its research performance, with citations increasing from around 944 to 10,549. The University’s admissions had also increased from around 1,800 last year to more than 2,800 this year, which, he said, reflected growing confidence in the institution.

He also highlighted the University’s participation in the National Research Foundation’s Partnership for Accelerated Innovation and Research programme in collaboration with IIT Delhi, saying the future of research lay in meaningful collaborations that transcend institutional and disciplinary boundaries.

The University, he said, was also witnessing research and innovation across emerging areas including energy storage, health sciences, cybersecurity, communication, financial technologies, biometric authentication and patient-safety technologies.

He also referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Sahitya Sanskriti Samagam, which brought together diverse literary and cultural traditions from across the region and witnessed participation of more than 50,000 people. He said universities must provide students not only contemporary knowledge and technological skills but also an understanding of their own cultural roots and identity.

Prof. Rai also outlined the infrastructural development underway at the University, including strengthening of digital infrastructure, expansion of land resources, development of new academic and skill-development facilities and improvement of boys’ and girls’ hostels. He said the focus was on creating better academic, digital and residential facilities in keeping with the University’s growing needs.

Prof. Rai said the University of Jammu must continue to evolve as an institution where knowledge, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, culture and societal responsibility come together.

On the 58th Foundation Day, he called upon the University fraternity to renew its commitment to the institution and build a University that not only responds to the changing needs of higher education but also provides direction to others.

Chief Guest Dr. Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, congratulated the University fraternity and said universities were not merely places of teaching but institutions that shape individuals, society and the nation.

He said the strength of a university lies in its teachers, students, research culture and ability to innovate and adapt. Addressing the students, he said their background need not determine their future. “You can change your destiny through knowledge,” he said, adding that the knowledge economy begins in universities.

Guest of Honour Manish Vij, Managing Partner, Smile Group and Founder, Vanna Ventures, New Delhi, said universities must prepare students to combine disciplinary expertise with the ability to work across domains and address real-world challenges.

He said students should work with businesses and industries on real problems rather than undertake projects that merely end with certificates or reports. “Projects should not simply be completed and placed on shelves. They should remain alive, run by the business and appreciated by the business,” he said.

Calling AI a major opportunity, Vij said its application should extend beyond Computer Science to disciplines such as law, psychology, biology, agriculture and management. “The University of Jammu has an opportunity to become an AI university for India,” he said.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies, University of Jammu, described the University’s 58-year institutional journey as a testimony to resilience, perseverance and the contribution of generations of stakeholders.

Prof. Rohmetra said the University was increasingly making space for skills, entrepreneurship, experiential learning, learning beyond classrooms and cutting-edge research with societal relevance.

A special feature of the 58th Foundation Day celebrations was the felicitation of distinguished alumni who have excelled in the fields of judiciary, civil administration, tourism and entrepreneurship, besides student achievers and best-performing employees of the University.

Among those honoured was Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, alumnus of Law and presently Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. With a distinguished legal career spanning over three decades, Justice Nargal has extensive experience in constitutional, service, taxation, academic, civil and arbitration matters.

Earlier, as part of its commitment to social responsibility and youth engagement, the University of Jammu organised a Nasha Mukt Pledge, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai. The pledge reaffirmed the University’s resolve to contribute towards a drug-free society, in alignment with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and Chancellor Manoj Sinha for a Nasha Mukt Bharat and a drug-free Jammu & Kashmir.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Registrar, University of Jammu, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Vice-Chancellor, distinguished guests and members of the University fraternity for their generous participation and contributions towards making the 58th Foundation Day celebrations memorable.