CS Kundra calls for comprehensive overhaul of higher education planning

LEH: Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of higher education planning in the region, emphasising the need to address faculty shortages, improve student enrolment and retention, and introduce specialised, skill-based and employment-oriented courses aligned with Ladakh’s socio-economic needs.

Chairing a meeting on higher education at the LAHDC Conference Hall here on Friday, Kundra reviewed the functioning of colleges and universities across the Union Territory and held detailed deliberations on recruitment, academic infrastructure, course offerings, student admissions and equitable access to quality education, particularly in remote areas.

He stressed that higher education institutions must move beyond conventional academic programmes and equip students with practical skills, professional qualifications and career opportunities suited to the region’s requirements and emerging employment sectors.

The meeting was attended by Secretary, Planning, Himanshu Gupta; Secretary, School Education, Bhanu Prabha; Vice-Chancellor, University of Ladakh, Prof. Saket Kushwaha; Dean, College Development Council, Dr. Tsewang Motup; principals of colleges in Leh, Kargil, Khaltsi, Nubra, Drass and Zanskar; senior faculty members, deans, award-winning teachers and other officials.

During the meeting, Dr. Tsewang Motup presented an overview of the higher education landscape in Ladakh, covering Sindhu Central University, the University of Ladakh and the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS). The presentation included college-wise details of sanctioned, filled and vacant teaching posts, faculty deputation to the University of Ladakh, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) trends over the past five years, student retention and the transition of students from schools to colleges.

Faculty shortages and recruitment emerged as key issues during the deliberations. Secretary, School Education, Bhanu Prabha, informed the meeting that feedback from stakeholders was being sought on the draft Recruitment Rules for the Common Teaching Cadre, including posts of Assistant Professors. The proposal is to be forwarded to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after October 15, following the consultation process.

The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of addressing staffing gaps and making effective use of available faculty expertise to strengthen teaching standards and expand academic opportunities. The review of sanctioned, filled and vacant posts was intended to help assess institutional requirements and identify measures for improving the functioning of colleges across Ladakh.

Emphasising the need to link education with employment, Kundra called for exploring specialised programmes in agriculture, horticulture, nursing, teacher education, hotel management, fashion technology and other professional fields relevant to Ladakh.

He stressed that the introduction of new courses should be guided by student demand, regional economic potential, availability of qualified faculty and realistic employment prospects rather than undertaken without assessing their long-term viability.

The meeting also discussed exploring private-sector participation in expanding professional and skill-based education. Such collaboration could help institutions offer programmes that respond to changing workforce requirements while providing students with pathways to employment and entrepreneurship within the region.

The Chief Secretary emphasised that academic planning should take into account the distinctive needs of Ladakh’s different regions, including Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra and Drass, where access to a wider range of courses may require location-specific interventions.

A comprehensive assessment of institutional capacity, student demand and existing course offerings was stressed to strengthen colleges and ensure more equitable access to quality higher education across the Union Territory.

The meeting examined college-wise enrolment figures, admission patterns and Gross Enrolment Ratio trends, with particular attention to student retention and the transition from school education to college-level studies.

The Chief Secretary called for identifying factors affecting enrolment and ensuring that courses offered by colleges correspond to students’ aspirations and the educational requirements of their respective areas. Rationalisation of course offerings, wherever necessary, was also discussed as part of efforts to make better use of available resources and faculty.

The need to strengthen competitive examination coaching, improve career counselling, promote entrepreneurship and provide greater industry exposure to students also figured in the discussions.

Kundra stressed that colleges should help students make informed academic and career choices, prepare for competitive examinations and explore professional opportunities without necessarily having to leave Ladakh for every specialised programme.

Underscoring the importance of measurable outcomes, the Chief Secretary called for establishing a mechanism to track students after graduation and assess their progression into higher studies, competitive examinations and employment.

Such monitoring would help institutions evaluate the effectiveness of their academic programmes, identify gaps in career preparation and align future courses with the actual outcomes achieved by graduates. He also emphasised strengthening practical learning, exposing students to modern technologies and improving awareness of relevant government schemes that could support education, entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities.

The meeting further highlighted the importance of research and academic projects focused on Ladakh-specific priorities, including agriculture, floriculture, market linkages and local economic development. Higher education institutions were encouraged to orient research and academic activities towards challenges and opportunities relevant to the region.

The deliberations centred on developing a coordinated approach to address faculty shortages, improve enrolment and retention, assess the viability of existing and proposed courses, and expand access to relevant, quality and employment-oriented higher education across Ladakh.