Landmark Initiative: JU to Launch Disaster Management Courses for Army Personnel

These skills shall help in the generation of Employment & increase the Potential of Tourism-Prof Umesh Rai

Jammu, May 01- Quoting Mahatma Gandhi “Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever” while addressing the curtain raiser, Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu said while recognizing the experiential learning, rigorous training of the army personnel and their contribution for the country that University is taking a landmark initiative by starting certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Mountain craft & disaster management and Snow craft & disaster management for the jawans and officers.

The Vice-Chancellor was flanked by Prof Rajni Kant, Dean Research Studies, Prof Arvind Jasrotia, Registrar, Prof Pankaj Srivastava, Convenor, JKSET, Prof Sundeep Pandita, Director, Disaster Management Centre,  Prof A.S Jasrotia and Dr Vinay Thusoo, Incharge Media Cell.

Three skill-based certificate courses in collaboration with HAWS in disaster management with a focus on Search, rescue and survival, Snow craft and avalanche rescue, Rock craft and mountain rescue shall be conducted for the students of JU in collaboration with HAWS. These programmes shall be jointly conducted by the Disaster Management Centre of Geology Department and High Altitude Warfare School Gulmarg, said Prof Rai and further stated that the skills imparted under the exchange programme shall make the students trained in rock craft and snow craft which will help them in developing adventure sports in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Prof Rai further exhorted that these skills shall help in the generation of employment and increase the potential of tourism.

While responding to the query by a media person, he said that the  University is also formulating undergraduate degree and post-graduate degree programmes, especially for the Army personnel in Disaster Management giving due weightage to their experiential learning. Vice-Chancellor further illustrated that these path-breaking initiatives are been taken under the MOU between the University of Jammu and HAWS which shall be formally launched on 3^rd May at HAWS training centre Sonmarg.

It is noteworthy to mention that the MoU records mutual intent for academic and research collaboration between the University of Jammu and HAWS for academic and technical advancement and progression of Army personnel and University students and faculty specifically in the discipline of high altitude studies and disaster management in mountainous regions.

Prof Pankaj Srivastava, Convenor, State Eligibility Test in his address said that the University of Jammu, a nodal agency for the conduct of the State Eligibility Test for the UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh, is going to start the application process for the JKSET/LASET – 2023 from May 5^th, 2023 onward. The candidate can apply online mode till June 5^th 2023. On the popular demands of the students from J & K, this year a new subject “Tourism Management and Administration” is added to the JKSET examination.  The examination shall be held on 1^st October 2023 at 10 different cities of UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh, said Prof Srivastava.

Prof. S. K. Pandita while elaborating on the details said that the certificate courses shall enhance the capability of the participating students in managing disasters, particularly in mountainous, high altitude and glaciated regions. The theory and basic training component of these certificate courses shall be conducted by the Disaster Management Centre of the University of Jammu and advance practical training part shall be conducted by the HAWS.

Among others, Prof Seema Langar, Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Prof Savita Nayyar, m faculty members of the Geology Department were also present on the occasion.