AWANTIPORA, AUG 15 – On the eve of the 80th Independence Day celebrations, Prof Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor, hoisted the National Flag at a ceremony held on the University campus. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Prof Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof Shamim Ahmad Shah, Registrar, Mr. Sameer Wazir Finance officer, Deans of schools, Heads of Departments, senior officers, faculty members and staff.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Romshoo extended Independence Day greetings and reflected on India’s remarkable transformation into a nation of growing global consequence, driven by advances in science, technology, education, and innovation while remaining rooted in its rich civilizational heritage and values.
Emphasising the pivotal role of universities in nation-building, he said that India’s greatest strength is its youth power, which must be empowered not merely as beneficiaries of development but as partners in innovation, entrepreneurship, governance and societal transformation. He observed that the journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 must also be a journey from opportunity to participation and from participation to ownership.
Prof. Romshoo said that IUST has sought to translate this philosophy into action through the implementation of NEP 2020, multidisciplinary and future-oriented academic programmes, skill development, Project-Based Learning, research and innovation infrastructure, and a vibrant incubation and start-up ecosystem. The University’s significant growth in start-ups and incubatees, he said, demonstrates how higher education can enable young people to move from job seekers to innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators.
He stressed that universities must increasingly become bridges between knowledge and society, youth and opportunity, and regional aspirations and national development. Welcoming the new batch of students, Prof. Romshoo urged them to cultivate curiosity, creativity and compassion, embrace emerging technologies, and use their knowledge to solve societal problems and contribute to building a peaceful, prosperous, innovative and Viksit Jammu & Kashmir and Viksit Bharat 2047.
