11 universities functional in J&K: Govt

Jammu, Feb 19: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday informed the House that a total of 11 universities—nine public and two central—are presently functional in the Union Territory, with detailed figures of student enrolment and staff strength placed on record.
Replying to a starred question by MLA Dr. Rameshwar Singh, the Minister-in-Charge, Higher Education Department, said that the higher education landscape in J&K comprises the University of Jammu, University of Kashmir, Cluster University Jammu, Cluster University Srinagar, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (Kakryal, Katra), Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (Rajouri), Islamic University of Science and Technology (Awantipora), SKUAST-Jammu, SKUAST-Kashmir, Central University of Jammu and Central University of Kashmir.
As per the data tabled in the House, the University of Kashmir has the highest enrolment with 12,002 students, followed by Cluster University Jammu (16,711) and Cluster University Srinagar (16,179). The University of Jammu has an enrolment of 3,946 students.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University has 796 students, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University 2,401, Islamic University of Science and Technology 4,827, SKUAST-Jammu 1,997 and SKUAST-Kashmir 4,959 students. The Central University of Jammu and Central University of Kashmir have enrolments of 3,372 and 2,592 students respectively.
The reply further states that enrolment figures include both local and non-local students, including a small number of foreign nationals in some institutions.
Regarding staff strength, the government said that details of sanctioned and in-position teaching and non-teaching staff in each university have also been furnished. The University of Kashmir has 373 teaching staff in position, while the University of Jammu has 252. Among non-teaching staff, the University of Kashmir has 1,899 employees in position and the University of Jammu 1,166.
The Minister informed that institution-wise details of teaching and non-teaching staff, including local and non-local employees, have been annexed with the official reply. (KNO)