BeyondHeadlines News Desk
New Delhi: Prof Najma Akhtar, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, has underlined the need for updating of the existing courses, overhauling outdated ones and opening new courses in sync with contemporary demands.
In a message to teaching and non-teaching fraternity of the university, Prof Akhtar also said efforts should be made to inculcate the values of hard work and punctuality among the students, motivate them to learn the virtues of discipline, time management and multi-tasking.
Talking about the end-semester examinations and the ongoing admission process for the 2019-20 academic session, she said “it is our duty to see that they are conducted smoothly, adopting a pro-student policy.
“Growth and development of an institution has two dimensions—consolidation and expansion. We must try to consolidate what we already have, update and tone up programmes that have been running and overhaul those that are outdated and lagging behind, “ she said.
“We must expand to build new areas, institutes, faculties and open new courses in sync with contemporary demands and commensurate with the status of JMI as a world-class institution,” Prof. Akhtar said, adding that everyone should work together to make the university known as an institution where studies and researches are pursued vigorously and the academic calendar is strictly followed.
Prof. Akhtar, the first woman Vice-Chancellor of the university, said JMI is a gender-sensitive institution and right from its inception it has embraced the idea of co-education and healthy mixing and growth of both males and females. “Let us do nothing or make no such utterances that can be even remotely interpreted as disrespectful or derogatory to women.”
She also said that the staff should be sensitive to the fact that no comments should be made on a student’s clothing, complexion, race, region or religion.
“Women empowerment will be a special focus of the current administration”, she declared and said, “let us all cultivate common virtues of humanity and cosmopolitanism.”
She also said that Jamia schools, an integral part of JMI, should make every possible effort to achieve the aims and objectives of education laid down by the country.
Describing the role of non-teaching staff as being of “crucial importance” she said their professional efficiency and devotion are critical to the functioning of the university.
She referred to two upcoming momentous events in the calendar of the university in coming months and years – JMI centenary celebrations and the second NAAC visit for the evaluation and asked all the Deans, Heads, Centre Directors and Heads of the schools to remain in a state of preparedness for these events.
Declaring that she is always open to rational and meaningful dialogues, she said steps would be taken for the overall development of the institution with widest possible consultations and deliberations with all stakeholders, but “never under any pressure/influence.”
Greeting the staff for the holy month of Ramadan, she wished them happiness and peace.
She ended her message by a couplet of famous Urdu progressive poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin– Hayat le ke chalo kainat le ke chalo/ chalo to saare zamaane ko saath le ke chalo…
