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Cradled in the lap of mountains at the foothills of auspicious Trikuta, besides the river Tawi at an altitude of 1030 ft. is Jammu. This 'city of temples' has many places...
Final open house for JU’s pioneering DYD program draws enthusiastic response
Jammu May 30: The University of Jammu successfully held the third and final Open House for its flagship Design Your Degree (DYD) program today, drawing the curtain on a series of engaging and interactive sessions aimed at prospective students and their families. Organized on the university campus, the event provided a vibrant platform for open dialogue among aspiring students, their guardians, faculty mentors, academic experts, and current students of the DYD program.
The concluding Open House began with an address by Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, who reiterated the University’s commitment to reshaping undergraduate education through the DYD initiative, which is firmly in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Prof. Rai described the DYD program not merely as a curriculum shift but as a rethinking of higher education—where students are given the tools and freedom to steer their academic journeys. He emphasized the importance of core skill development in areas such as analytical thinking, mathematical reasoning, communication, creativity, and critical thinking—skills essential for success in today’s fast-changing world. He urged students to step forward and take ownership of their futures by embracing this forward-looking model of education.
Prof. Alka Sharma, Director SIIDEC, welcomed the participants and facilitated a lively, open-format interaction. She encouraged students and parents to ask questions, share their aspirations, and learn more about the opportunities the DYD program has to offer.
A detailed overview of the program was presented by Prof. Sadaf Shah, Associate Director, SIIDEC, who explained the flexible academic structure and outlined the admissions process. She elaborated on how the first two years of the program are designed to build a solid foundation across disciplines, while the final two years allow students to craft their own degree pathways—selecting from options such as B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., or B.Tech. (IT). Prof. Shah noted that DYD encourages students to go beyond traditional academic boundaries and design cross-disciplinary learning experiences based on their interests and career ambitions. She also coordinated the overall event, ensuring its smooth execution.
The audience was also addressed by Mr. A.M. Tiwari, Vice Chancellor of TransStadia University, Gujarat, who shared candid insights into the gaps in the current education system and praised the DYD model as a timely and much-needed step towards preparing future-ready graduates.
The event saw active engagement with a team of dedicated DYD faculty mentors, including Prof. K.S. Charak, Prof. Anil Gupta, Dr. Jatinder Manhas, Dr. Sandeep Arya, Dr. Shallu Sehgal, Dr. Sunil Bhougal, Dr. Sandeep Singh, Dr. Pallavi Sachdeva, Dr. Chinmoyee Maharana, Dr. Ripu Daman Parihar, Dr. Sarika Verma, and Dr. Manish, who interacted with students and shared insights on the unique strengths of the DYD program as a flexible, student-centric model.
A major highlight of the Open House was a heartfelt experience-sharing session by current DYD students from Semesters 2 and 4. Their personal stories and reflections resonated strongly with the audience, offering a glimpse into how the program has shaped their academic choices, creative growth, and personal confidence.
"With this final Open House, the pre-admission phase of the DYD program draws to a close. The entrance examination is scheduled to be held on 5th June 2025 at 10:30 AM at the new Design Your Degree building on the university campus.