The way things are unfolding, the CLUJ will take at least 10 -15 years to stride on path for which it came into existence in 2016, says Dr Bechan Lal, Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu.
JAMMU: Established with intent to become a vibrant institution and act as an agent of change in existing traditional educational system for creation of skilled and quality workforce, the Cluster University of Jammu (CLUJ) has miserably failed to realize goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transform Higher Education into globally competitive institutions which was religiously pursued by the J&K UT leadership.
Instead, seven years down the line, it become a hub for kitchen postings, nepotism, rehabilitation center for retired employees of Jammu University, turf of politics for a coterie which have hijacked CLUJ to secure their continuation of postings in comfort zone till retirement.
The objectives of the Kashmir and Jammu Cluster Universities Act, 2016 underline focus on dissemination of advance knowledge through research facilities, skill development vocational courses with stress on industrial oriented teaching as well as training to yield employable skilled workforce with a view to contribute to the development of the society.
However, currently the CLUJ diminished itself into a conventional courses which otherwise were already offered by Jammu University through its regular as well as distance mode.
Formed as cluster of five constituents Colleges- GGM Science College, MAM College, SPMR College of Commerce, GCW, Gandhi Nagar College and GCOE, Canal Road for pooling and sharing resources, intellectual capabilities and infrastructure with headquarter at GGM Science College, the CLUJ was established under RUSA scheme in 2016 for imparting education to become centre of excellence.
Ironically, the authorities of CLUJ neither introduced any new subjects nor commenced vocational course whereas it showcased its academic and administrative bankruptcy by abruptly winding up all integrated courses, alleged one college Principal, confiding anonymity.
Top of it, no efforts were made to start skill oriented self financed diploma and certificate courses which otherwise can be started with help of government departments as well as industrial establishments by venturing into agreement with them, reveals one officer of varsity.
For a matter of fact, the job of Dean Academic Affairs (DAA) was to design and introduce new courses as per the Act.
Tragically, Schools imparting integrated courses in Engineering and Computer, Languages, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Commerce and Management and Life Sciences were closed abruptly which is a serious question mark on existence of incumbent DAA, Naveen Anand, who was posted in CLUJ only after few months hoping stint as Principal in well established GDC, Ramban and GDC, Samba.
Similarly, Dean Sciences, Sanjay Verma, who cling to CLUJ since its inception fell apart in introducing new course in Science and related field.
Not only this, even there is severe mess prevailing in Controller of Examination (CoE) wing headed by Rajinder Sharma which indeed to be highlighted as separate news item.
There are allegations that DAA, DSc and CoE have history of kitchen postings and brought to CLUJ at the behest of incumbent Registrar, Jatinder Khajuria who enjoys cake walk with extension of 5 years by branding that CLUJ is still in infancy stage and need cradle care despite seven years of its existence.
While the VC of CLUJ in an interaction with JK Global News shifts blame for failure towards Higher Education Department (HED) owing to shortage of staff, faculty and infrastructure besides non cooperation by the constituent colleges, reliable sources attribute academic disaster in CLUJ allegedly due to absence of vision besides play of internal politics prevailing among academics, administrators and officials.
Merely establishing CLUs won’t create skilled manpower but the collective will of teaching fraternity to make it happen will go a long way. Govt has done enough to create the opportunities, says college Principal, confiding anonymity.
HED always provided everything required to help CLUJ in achieving its goal but sadly it was observed that the funds released for research work were either diverted or lapsed which depicts the sordid work culture prevailing in CLUJ says reliable sources in HED.
Moreover, knowingly that CLUJ was a new concept which demands accomplishment of goals within the available resources but to our utter surprise a coterie in CLUJ is more keen towards appointments, constructions and purchases rather than academic excellence, further avers an officer of HED.
JK Global News Take: Every institution at its inception stage faced certain inevitable hurdles but accomplishing defined goals with limited resources is an opportunity for demonstration of acumen and capability. Success and not failures should be our role models. Maharashtra achieves remarkable success in Cluster varsity concept and is inching towards establishing another one. CLUJ has got more than enough and the incumbent VC must initiate critical analysis of contribution rendered by those who earned mastery in cribbing and leg pulling to keep intact their selfish agenda. The HED also takes remedial measures to stop entry of deadwood in CLUJ.
(To be continued)