In the wake of introducing an innovative Design Your Degree (DYD) program at Cluster University Srinagar, the honorable Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Mobin, along with the Controller of Examinations, Prof. Khursheed Ahmad Mir, and Dean Academics, Prof. (Dr.) Seema Naz, engaged with the first batch of students enrolled in this pioneering program.
The DYD program will be conducted through Amar Singh College and Government College of Education (IASE), both constituent colleges of Cluster University Srinagar. To run the DYD program effectively, broader and deeper collaborations between the constituent colleges, as well as with other leading institutions within and outside the Union Territory, are essential.
Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Mobin, the honorable Vice Chancellor, addressed concerns regarding the DYD program and assured students of the university’s full support to meet the needs and demands of the course. “The program aligns with and embodies the true spirit of NEP-2020 in its curricular, pedagogic, and assessment domains,” the Vice Chancellor stated. He emphasized the importance of student commitment by saying, “It is imperative that students registering for this program possess the right attitude to immerse themselves wholeheartedly.”
Prof. Khursheed Mir, Controller of Examinations, congratulated the students for being the pioneers of this innovative DYD program at Cluster University Srinagar. He expressed confidence that the program would be a game changer in students’ lives, as it is specifically tailored to the needs of the present times. “This unconventional program disrupts traditional educational approaches and brings a real-life curriculum into the university ecosystem,” he remarked.
Highlighting the key features of the program, Prof. (Dr.) Seema Naz stated, “The curriculum is curated and designed to stimulate the critical and creative capacities of learners.” She further noted that the program would test the university’s institutional capabilities, as it includes ‘out-of-the-box’ courses such as critical thinking, disruptive technologies, digital humanities, and practical problem-solving. “By integrating real-life problems into the classroom, we aim to awaken diverse potentials and capabilities in learners, facilitating focused and functional knowledge construction under the guidance of mentors from various backgrounds,” she explained.
An official source from Cluster University informed the press that 30 students have already registered for the program and that classes will commence as soon as the admission formalities are completed at the designated constituent colleges. Both colleges are actively enhancing their efforts to provide comprehensive and enriching experiences to the DYD program students. “Collaborations and partnerships have been solidified with multiple institutions, alongside capacity-building initiatives for mentors assigned to the program,” the official concluded.
