Leh, Feb 06: Education, research and innovation will shape Ladakh’s long-term development and its contribution to the national Developed India 2047 vision, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, said on Thursday during his visit to the University of Ladakh campus at Taru.
Interacting with students, faculty and staff, the Lieutenant Governor said higher education institutions in geographically difficult regions carry a special responsibility in nation-building. He said the University of Ladakh reflects the aspirations and academic strength of the region and has grown steadily since its establishment.
During his tour of the campus, the Lieutenant Governor reviewed advanced teaching and research facilities and appreciated the presence of modern laboratories and scientific infrastructure, including genome sequencing facilities, ICP-MS and X-ray diffraction systems, as well as the Centralised Interdisciplinary Science Instrumentation Centre. He said the availability of such facilities in a high-altitude region underlines Ladakh’s rising profile in higher education and research.
He noted that the University, which started with a limited number of programmes, is now offering nearly 72 academic courses across skill-based education, agriculture, science and technology. He stressed that education must go beyond degrees and focus on building innovators, entrepreneurs and socially responsible citizens.
Emphasising the need to nurture job creators rather than job seekers, the Lieutenant Governor encouraged teachers to guide students towards emerging and locally relevant areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and innovation suited to Ladakh’s fragile ecology. He said faculty members play a central role in preparing young people for inclusive growth while safeguarding the region’s cultural and environmental heritage.
Reaffirming full support from the Union Territory administration, he assured that steps would be taken to further strengthen the University through academic collaborations, exposure programmes and capacity-building initiatives for both faculty and students. He also said efforts would be made to bring reputed national institutions, including IIMs and IITs, closer to Ladakh so that quality education becomes accessible within the region and the outflow of local talent is reduced.
The Lieutenant Governor also spoke about the importance of value-based education, leadership studies and peace studies, stating that Ladakh has the potential to emerge as a model of harmony-driven development through education.
During the visit, he inaugurated the NABL-accredited ICP-MS facility, inspected advanced laboratories and the Central Library equipped with digital and e-learning resources, and reviewed innovation-oriented initiatives focused on entrepreneurship and skill development.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Saket Kushwaha and Administrative Secretary, Higher Education, Bhanu Prabha, welcomed the Lieutenant Governor.
In-charge Registrar Nawang Tundup presented a detailed briefing on academic programmes and ongoing activities across University of Ladakh campuses and colleges in Leh and Kargil.
The Vice-Chancellor also briefed the Lieutenant Governor on academic and administrative reforms, initiatives to improve teaching and learning, steps to strengthen research and innovation, efforts to promote global citizenship among students, and measures to streamline governance through coordinated decision-making. He further informed about the process underway to fill vacant teaching and non-teaching posts and to improve academic infrastructure and student facilities across campuses.
Administrative and teaching staff, faculty members, Under Secretary Higher Education Sumera Shafi, and other senior officials were present during the visit.
