JAMMU, Sep 7: Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Umesh Rai on Monday said the University is moving towards a model of higher education that combines academic excellence and research with innovation, skill development, cultural rootedness and greater opportunities for students.
Interacting with media persons at a Curtain Raiser ahead of the University’s 58th Foundation Day, Prof. Rai said Foundation Day was not merely an occasion to look back at the University’s journey, but also to reflect on the institution it seeks to become in the years ahead.
“Our effort is to create a University where students get opportunities not only to earn a degree, but also to learn, innovate, create, participate and grow,” he said.
The University will celebrate its 58th Foundation Day on September 8 at 11 am at Brigadier Rajinder Singh Auditorium. Dr. Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, will be the Chief Guest, while Manish Vij, Managing Partner, Smile Group and Founder, Vaana Ventures, New Delhi, will be the Guest of Honour.
Prof. Rai said the NAAC A++ accredited University, ranked 51st in the University Category and 21st among State Public Universities in NIRF, has expanded its academic portfolio in line with NEP 2020. For the first time this academic year, the University has introduced Five-Year Integrated Programmes across disciplines with a combined intake of 400 students.
He said several new doctoral, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have been introduced. B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering has started at UIET, Kathua Campus, while B.Tech in Robotics and Automation has been approved for the next academic year. The newly established Department of Foreign Languages is also introducing certificate and diploma courses in Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Russian, among others.
Highlighting the University’s growing research profile, Prof. Rai said JU has joined the ANRF-PAIR programme as a Spoke institution in collaboration with IIT Delhi. Annual research citations increased from 944 in 2022 to 10,549 in 2025, while Ph.D. admissions rose from 133 in 2024-25 to 177 in 2025-26.
He said that international academic collaborations have also been strengthened through partnerships with foreign universities, creating greater opportunities for global academic engagement, knowledge exchange, collaborative research, and institutional cooperation. The University has also received patents in areas ranging from energy storage and healthcare to cybersecurity, smart waste management, Li-Fi communication and biometric authentication.
Referring to infrastructure expansion, Prof. Rai said the Ministry of Defence approved the land exchange in July 2026, enabling the Army to vacate more than 147 kanals of land adjoining the University campus after over five decades.
The Vice-Chancellor further stated that 10 kanals of land have also been allotted to the University for the Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA) & University of Jammu has for the first time established its Kashmir Campus at Bemina, for which 50 kanals of land has been alloted.
Major infrastructure projects underway include the Innovation Tower, Department of Journalism & Media Studies building, multipurpose halls and shooting range.
Under new CAPEX projects, Rs 15 crore has been allocated for the IMFA Building and Rs 14 crore for the Philosophy Building, while Rs 5.5 crore has been earmarked for renovation of hostels. Infrastructure is also being strengthened at the University’s off-site campuses.
On digital transformation, Prof. Rai said the University has implemented 17 Samarth ERP modules, established more than 1,100 LAN points across hostels and invested nearly Rs 5 crore in IT infrastructure modernisation. An MoU with INFLIBNET, Gandhinagar, will further strengthen digital library and research services.
The Vice Chancellor said the University was equally committed to its cultural and social responsibilities. He referred to the Aurobindo Gyan Kendra, Gandhian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, and the newly approved Centre for Regional Studies, Culture, Dialects & Emotional Intelligence of Jammu & Kashmir, which will work towards documenting and digitising the region’s oral histories, dialects, folklore and cultural practices.
He also highlighted student-centric initiatives including GOONJ, UTSAAH-The Student Club Cluster and Earn While You Learn Scheme, besides the University’s efforts to improve employability. The first Job Fair organised by CDOE attracted 15 companies and 565 candidates, while a placement drive with Century Bank Brokers, Dubai, saw more than 500 students participate and 150 secure placements.
Prof. Rai also referred to the Jammu Vishwavidyalaya: Sahitya-Sanskriti Samagam, PRAKRITI International Documentary Film Festival and the University’s extensive participation in the 100 Days of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan as part of its wider engagement with students and society.
He said the University’s vision is to be academically strong, research-driven and technologically enabled, while remaining deeply connected with the society, languages and cultural traditions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Prof. Rai appreciated the role of the media in connecting the University with the wider public and called for greater engagement on issues related to higher education, research, innovation and students.
The interaction was attended by Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies; Prof. J. P. Singh Joorel, Dean Academic Affairs; Prof. Sangeeta Gupta, Dean Planning and Development; Prof. Pankaj K. Srivastava, Director, CDOE; Prof. Prakash Chand Antahal, Dean Students Welfare, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Registrar and members of the Press and Media Committee.