Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath kick-started the two-week Capacity Building Programme (CBP) on “Academic and Research Excellence in Higher Education”, organised by the varsity and sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), at Tulmulla Campus here on Monday.

Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar (CUS), Prof. Mohammad Mubeen, Dean, School of Legal Studies (SLS), Prof. Farooq Ahmad Mir, Dean, School of Languages (SoL) and Course Director, Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, and Dean School of Education (SoE) and Director DIQA, Prof. Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, I/c Controller of Examinations, Prof. C Naseema, participants from across the country, faculty members and research scholars were present.

During the inaugural session, Dean, SoL, and Course Director, Prof. Sandhya Tiwari, in her welcome address, described the programme as a strategic investment in intellectual capital designed to empower educators to adapt to the changing academic landscape. “We live in a time of unprecedented educational transformation. NEP 2020 calls for holistic, interdisciplinary, and lifelong learning. As faculty, we must go beyond mere information delivery to shaping inquisitive, innovative, and ethical minds,” she said. She outlined that the two-week programme would cover three major areas: pedagogy, research methodology, and data analysis, with a strong emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and modern analytical tools such as SPSS and regression analysis. “Incorporating indigenous wisdom with modern research methods is vital. It helps us stay rooted in our traditions while remaining globally competitive,” she explained.

In his address, Dean, SLS, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Mir, discussed the evolution of teaching and research in higher education. “When I began my career, teaching was considered mandatory and research optional. Today, that notion is reversed. A teacher is now twice a student—first to learn and then to teach,” he remarked. He emphasized that teaching is an art that must be cultivated through sincerity, passion, and continuous learning. Prof. Mir warned that technology, while empowering, also exposes unprepared teachers. “The most vulnerable species today is the teacher. If we don’t update ourselves, our students will update us,” he quipped, drawing appreciative laughter from the audience. He called for integrating technology with research and urged participants to embrace collaborative, honest, and ethical inquiry.

Speaking on the occasion, Dean SoE, Prof. Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, said the NEP-2020 has set in motion a transformative agenda-one that seeks to redefine education, as a holistic, flexible and multidisciplinary process deeply rooted in the Indian Knowledge System, while preparing learners for the challenges of a globalised world. “NEP-2020 envisions educators who can seamlessly integrate pedagogical innovation, research orientation and technological fluency. The spirit of this CBP is to equip our teachers and researchers with knowledge, tools and mindset to respond meaningfully to this evolving landscape,” Prof. Syed Zahoor Geelani added.

In his keynote address, Vice-Chancellor, CUS, Prof. Mohammad Mubeen, reflected on the evolution of India’s higher education—from the 1986 National Policy of Education to NEP 2020—and its ongoing transformation. “Earlier education was largely exam-oriented and rigidly structured. Students were expected to reproduce class notes rather than think critically. NEP 2020 has changed that paradigm—it envisions education that creates thinkers, innovators, and responsible citizens,” he said. Emphasizing that capacity building is the foundation of quality education, he said “Teacher training and academic self-reflection are crucial. Every teacher must ask—what kind of teacher will I be remembered as when I retire?”

 “Our education system must produce knowledge creators, not just degree holders. Only then can India move from being a knowledge-consuming to a knowledge-producing nation,” he concluded.

In his presidential address, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, said the programme aims to enhance pedagogical skills, research competencies, and data-driven inquiry among faculty members, in consonance with the transformative vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He lauded the organisers and highlighted the importance of aligning academic and research pursuits with institutional development plans. “Any institution striving for excellence must move through four stages—formative, consolidation, advancement, and finally, eminence,” he remarked. “To reach the stage of eminence, universities must craft a clear Institutional Development Plan—not just proposals under schemes, but a visionary document that defines where the institution aspires to be in the next 15 years.”

Co-course director, Dr. Firdous Ahmad Sofal conducted the programme and said, the CBP will feature interactive sessions, and expert lectures by eminent scholars and practitioners. He added that the programme will enable participants to refine their research and teaching skills. He also proposed the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to the Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, Registrar, Prof. Nisar Ahmad Mir, senior functionaries, and all the organising committee members for their valuable support and guidance. Thereafter technical sessions were conducted by the experts.