College on Wheels:Day-8 *J&K students’ contingent visits Goa Shipyard, INS Hansa*

In a groundbreaking initiative, the contingent of girl students of various universities and colleges from across Jammu and Kashmir, currently on two-week College on Wheels journey, today visited the renowned Naval Air Base INS Hansa and the prestigious Goa Shipyard Ltd, as part of enriching educational journey.

At INS Hansa, the students received in-depth insights into the naval air base's operations, exploring cutting-edge equipment and getting an up-close look at fighter planes stationed at the Air Base, including the Dornier 228. The engaging session enabled the students to interact with officials who answered their queries in detail.

"The visit to INS Hansa was a transformative experience for our students. Witnessing the advanced technology and interacting with naval top brass served as a source of inspiration, opening new avenues for their aspirations," said Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor University of Jammu, who also visited the Naval Air Base along with other officials from the University of Kashmir.

Prof. Umesh Rai expressed his gratitude to Lt. Cdr Manjeet Arya and the authorities for facilitating the visit of the contingent of College on wheels to the high profile Naval Air Base.

Prof. Rai also presented a memento to Lt. Cdr Arya, on the occasion.

The first-hand experience extended to the functioning of the Dornier 228 and other warplanes enriched the students with valuable insights into the intricacies of aviation technology.

The empowering journey aims at broadening the horizons for the students, fostering a spirit of curiosity and motivation to explore diverse career paths.

Later, the contingent received a warm reception at Goa Shipyard Ltd., where they were provided with detailed insights into the shipyard's operations. Authorities at the Shipyard showcased the advanced technologies employed in shipbuilding and highlighted its contributions to the maritime sector.

Interacting with the students and the Shipyard authorities, Vice Chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai said that the idea of this journey is to connect education with the societal and National challenges. He said that the visit to such places of National importance is a life-time opportunity to the students visiting the College on wheels. He also expressed his gratitude to the authorities to the Goa Shipyard Ltd.

Dean Academic Affairs, University of Kashmir Prof Khurshid A Bhat, who was also present on the occasion, lauded the initiative, saying this will add to the knowledge of the students. He hoped the visit will enable them to see the places of historic importance in the metropolitan cities.

He also appreciated the constant monitoring of the journey by Vice Chancellor Prof Umesh Rai.

The visit was coordinated by Dr. Guneet Sudan, Nodal officer -III.

The contingent comprises of 780 students alongwith mentors and the administrative staff from the University of Jammu, University of Kashmir, Cluster University of Jammu, Cluster University of Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, affiliated colleges of JU and KU, Delhi University and Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC), New Delhi.

The “Gyanodaya Express- College on Wheels”, aligned with the visionary National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 seeking to propel a shift from job seekers to job creators, fostering a culture of idea incubation, innovation, and skill development, was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Mr Manoj Sinha from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station, Katra in Jammu and Kashmir on November 19.