Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: The University of Jammu today marked a significant milestone in strengthening its academic infrastructure with the inauguration of a dedicated Academic Block for the Design Your Degree (DYD) programme.
The Academic Block was formally inaugurated by Shri Shantmanu, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Higher Education Department, Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory, in the presence of Prof UmeshRai, Hon’bleViceChancellor, UniversityofJammu, Prof. Sangeeta Gupta, Dean Planning and Development, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Registrar, Prof. Pankaj Srivastava, Director CDOE, Prof. Jasbir Singh, Chief Coordinator Campuses. The inauguration ceremony was organised by the Office of the Dean, Planning and Development, University of Jammu.
The newly inaugurated Academic Block has been envisioned as a dedicated academic and creative space to foster innovation, experiential learning, and academic excellence. Equipped with modern classrooms and collaborative learning spaces, the block will support student-centric pedagogy, project-based learning, and interdisciplinary engagement
Addressing the gathering, Shri Shantmanu, IAS, lauded the Design Your Degree programme as a visionary and student-centric academic initiative that reflects a decisive shift in higher education. He observed that the programme has emerged as a role model for universities across the country, with several institutions drawing inspiration from its flexible and interdisciplinary framework. Describing DYD as a successful academic experiment, he noted that it places innovation, adaptability, and informed choice at the heart of learning, making education more meaningful and relevant to contemporary societal needs.
Highlighting the unique strength of the programme, Shri Shantmanu remarked that students today are privileged to have the freedom to choose and shape their own academic and professional paths. During his interaction with students of the Design Your Degree programme, he expressed satisfaction at seeing them pursue diverse pathways, including management and technology, while simultaneously engaging in skill-based and hands-on learning. He noted that such flexibility keeps students motivated and connected to their interests, ensuring that learning remains engaging rather than routine. While appreciating the newly inaugurated prefabricated academic infrastructure, constructed within a short span and ready for immediate use, he also advised students and faculty to exercise thoughtful choices, keeping in view not only short-term goals but the long-term requirements of society in a rapidly evolving world.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by a brief visit to the newly inaugurated Academic Block.
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Prof. K. S. Charak, Prof. Sadaf Shah (Associate Director, SIIEDC), Dr. Jatinder Manhas (Associate Director, SIIEDC), Prof. Shallu Sehgal, Dr. Anil Gupta, Dr. Pallavi Sachdeva, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Dr. Sandeep Arya, Dr. Sakshi, Prof. Sarika Manhas, Dr. Ripu Daman Parihar, Dr. Manish Kumar, who contributed to the academic and administrative deliberations of the occasion.DD
