Jehlum Post News/Awantipora/June 10, 2015/Suggesting Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) to start evening classes on experimental basis, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar Wednesday has said the move will pave the way for such students to enroll for higher education who don’t get admission in educational institutions of the state due to paucity of seats. He said the initiative will make the University utilize the available resources in the best interest of the students and also prevent them from getting duped by the fake universities outside the State. The Minister was speaking at a seminar on “Igniting Mathematical Potential and Creative Thought (IMPACT)” organized by IUST Awantipora in the campus today.

He said the universities in J&K can emulate the model of the neighboring Punjab University which has a full-fledged Multidisciplinary Evening Studies Department offering a variety of courses including technical learning. He said especially introduction of vocational courses during evening classes would ensure at least respectable livelihood for the youth benefitting a large proportion of students. “More significantly, there are a large number of young men and women who take up employment directly after high school, and then realize that their career prospects are restricted because of the absence of a degree,” Akhtar said and added that evening classes would tremendously also benefit  such youth who are unable to get admission in normal process.
He said the Kashmir University and the Central University Kashmir have already begun the process for starting evening classes and IUST can also join the initiative to become a part of the global trend in education. The Minister asked teachers to rejuvenate entrepreneurial skills among the students so that they will set up income generating units of their own rather than hankering after government jobs. He said Government is providing financial assistance as well as expertise advice for the purpose. Terming present era the age of competition, the Minister said that merit and talent is deciding the future of the students and asked them to prepare themselves for proving their mettle in competitions. Describing Syed Mantaqi Shah (RA) a multi-dimensional personality, the Minister said that the great saint has transformed the life of the people and gave them art and skills besides global identity. He asked students to play their role in upholding the dignity and identity of IUST. The Minister inspected several departments, ongoing development works, workshops, laboratories, library and administrative blocks. While visiting Food Technology laboratory, the Minister was presented variety of items produced by students in the lab.  Impressed with the quality of the product, including Pizza, he asked enrolled students to set up a sale outlet (Pizza-Hut) within the premises of the University, adding this will create entrepreneurial tendency among the students.
Education Minister asked the authorities of the varsity to keep track of the outgoing students and ascertain from them the market demand so that capacity of the courses having good market potential could be increased accordingly. Speaking on the occasion, VC IUST shed light on the activities of the University and said that from the current academic session, the university would be introducing Chemistry and Physics subjects. He said the Department of Mathematics of the University has started a mathematics outreach programme IMPACT  in 2012 for school children aimed to increase their interest in mathematics, alleviate the math phobia that is common among students, enable the students to be active participants in doing mathematics rather than be passive recipients of mathematical information, bring out the innate creativity and talent of the young minds and nurture out-of-box thinking and raise awareness about the great job prospects that are possible with a degree in mathematics.  Earlier, while inspecting the ongoing projects of the university, the Minister was informed that 7 core stand expended on Lecture Theater while 7.30 crore have been incurred on electronic block.  He was told that 3.50 crore have been spent, out of project cost of 6.64 crore for Girls Hostel. Vice Chancellor, Prof A.R.Trag, Registrar, Prof A. G. Rather, HOD Mathematics, Prof Fozia Qazi, faculty of various disciplines, principals of different educational institutions were present on the occasion. Prof Fozia Qazi also spoke on the occasion and highlighted pros and cons of the IMPACT programme. Mr Afroz Bisati presented vote thanks. Later the Minister gave away prizes among the school children of different schools, who participated in a competition organized by Department of Mathematics.

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