Higher education is one of the most important investments a society can make in its future. Jammu and Kashmir has a long and distinguished tradition of higher education. Institutions such as Amar Singh College, S.P. College, Government M.A.M. College and G.G.M. Science College have educated generations of students and produced teachers, scientists, administrators, professionals, writers and public leaders.

It is therefore time to honestly examine whether the creation of Cluster Universities in Jammu and Kashmir was the best way forward, or whether strengthening our historic colleges as autonomous institutions or institutions with university-level academic status would have served the public and, particularly, the student community better.

The concept of Cluster Universities was introduced with a good intention—to bring together a group of colleges, improve infrastructure, expand academic programmes, encourage research and provide greater autonomy. The intention was certainly positive. However, after several years, it is reasonable to ask whether the expected transformation has actually taken place.

In my view, the experience does not appear sufficiently convincing to conclude that the Cluster University model has produced the kind of academic transformation that was envisaged. The creation of another layer of administration can sometimes increase institutional expenditure and bureaucracy without producing a proportionate improvement in teaching, research and student services.

The question, therefore, should not be whether we should continue with a particular model simply because it has already been created. The more important question is: What institutional arrangement will provide the best education, research opportunities and academic environment for our students?

An opportunity to rethink the modelInstead of maintaining separate administrative structures, the Government could consider whether some of our historic colleges can be transformed into large autonomous institutions or institutions of university-level status, wherever legally and academically feasible.Amar Singh College and S.P. College are among the most prominent historic institutions of Srinagar. Both have long histories, experienced faculty, established infrastructure, distinguished alumni and a strong emotional connection with the people of Kashmir.

Amar Singh College, in particular, has enormous potential to become a major multidisciplinary institution. The Cluster University complex is located immediately alongside the college. Rather than maintaining separate institutions divided merely by a common wall, the Government could examine the feasibility of integrating the two campuses and creating one large, academically powerful institution.A unified campus........

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