The Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Umesh Rai, highlighted the importance of life skills training, emotional well-being, and mindfulness practices in shaping students' overall development. He emphasized that such initiatives play a crucial role in preparing students for the challenges of the modern world by cultivating resilience, confidence, and leadership abilities.

Prof. Rai was speaking at the valedictory function of the five-day YES Plus Course workshop, organized for Design Your Degree students of Semesters 2 and 4 by the Skill Incubation Innovation Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SIIEDC), University of Jammu, in collaboration with The Art of Living Foundation. The workshop aimed at enhancing students' personal and professional growth through practical skill-building exercises and mindfulness techniques.

The sessions were led by Mr. Rohit Ranjan, Ritwik Mahajan, Akshita Sharma, along with Kanika Sharma, Jogeshwar, and Stuti Mahajan from The Art of Living, Jammu, who provided valuable insights and hands-on learning experiences.

Throughout the workshop, students participated in guided meditation, breathing exercises, self-reflection sessions, leadership training, and communication skill-building activities. Engaging exercises such as ice-breaking games, teamwork challenges, and practical demonstrations of mindfulness techniques further enriched the learning experience.

A key highlight of the workshop was the talent hunt and team-based cooking challenge, where students collaborated to prepare nutritious meals. This activity promoted teamwork, creativity, leadership, and the importance of healthy living.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Alka Sharma, Director, SIIEDC, delivered the welcome address and emphasized the objectives and achievements of the workshop. She expressed gratitude to Prof. Umesh Rai for his visionary leadership and support in student-centric initiatives that bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world skills.

The contributions of Prof. Sadaf Shah and Dr. Jatinder Manhas, Associate Directors; Dr. Chinmoyee, Deputy Director; Prof. K.S. Charak, Prof. Anil Gupta, Prof. Sarika Manhas, Dr. Pallavi Sachdeva, Dr. Sandeep Arya, Dr. Sarika Verma, Dr. Sandeep, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Dr. Ripu Dhawan, and Dr. Manish, along with faculty members of SIIEDC, were acknowledged for their role in ensuring the success of the program. Additionally, Dean Students Welfare, Prof. Prakash Anthal, and Dr. Daud Iqbal Baba, Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, were recognized for their contributions.

Special appreciation was extended to office staff members Ruquaiya, Divya Sawhney, Arjun, and Manav for their dedicated efforts in the smooth execution of the event.

The valedictory function was attended by Prof. Rajan Salalia from SKUAST Jammu and State Coordinator for The Art of Living, Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The workshop was coordinated by Dr. Shallu Sehgal, who also conducted the proceedings of the valedictory function and presented the formal vote of thanks.