My struggle for establishment of DM Community College and DDU-KAUSHAL Kendra– Part 1
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Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh (Shamu)
Contd from previous issue
There I stand engaged in animated discussion with senior policymakers during the historic Consultative Meeting for the New Education Policy at Vigyan Bhawan on August 11, 2015. This UGC-convened gathering represented the culmination of my journey from establishing Manipur's first community college to shaping national skills education policy.The invitation to this meeting, bearing the letterhead of UGC Chairman Prof. Ved Prakash (D.O. No. F.1-7/2015(CM), 21 July 2015), remains a cherished milestone. His words—"As an expert with wide experience on these themes, I invite you to contribute to an outcome document for the Ministry"—validated years of pioneering work. This recognition, my first direct summons from the UGC leadership, filled me with both pride and resolve.
In the invitation letter for the Consultative Meeting, I was informed to share my experience in two themes viz I) Improving the Quality of Regulation and II) Integrating Skill Development in Higher Education. The contents of the invitation were widely published in the leading local newspapers.
My selection likely stemmed from earlier contributions: 1) on December 2014: presented at UGC’s Workshop on Skills in Higher Education (Vigyan Bhawan) and 2) on February 2013: played a key role in the International Workshop on Mainstreaming Skill Education (MHRD), collaborating with 500 delegates—including 90 international experts—to draft National Occupational Standards (NOS) for healthcare and food sectors.
At the 2015 consultative meeting, exchanges with luminaries like Prof. K.P. Singh and Dr. Nikhil Kumar (architects of DDU-KAUSHAL) proved inva- luable. Within days, their insights bore fruit: on 14 August 2015, UGC approved DM College of Science as an institute to host a DDU-KAUSHAL Kendra with ?4.15 crore funding (2015–17) to launch B. Voc./M. Voc. programs in Radio Imaging Technology and Digital Multimedia Technology. This sanction transformed our earlier Advanced Diploma programs (Medical Lab Technology, Fruits & Vegetables Technology, TV Media Productions) into full-fledged degree pathways. The Kendra became, in essence, a micro-skill university—offering stac-kable credentials from certificates to PhDs, all under one visionary frame- work.
My Appointment as Regular Principal and Dual Leadership Role
I achieved a significant career milestone when I was appointed as the Regular Principal through Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) vide its recommendation notified on 4th November 2014. This appointment, formalized through Govt Orders dated 14 November 2014, marked an important moment in Manipur's higher education landscape - being among the first regular Principal appointments in the state after a gap of nearly three decades.Within days of this appointment, on 20 November 2014, a subsequent Government Order mandated that I continue serving as Nodal Officer of DM Community College alongside my new role as Principal of Manipur College. This dual appointment, while recognizing my ongoing contributions to voca- tional education, unfortunately intensified existing tensions. The year 2015 brought new opportunities when the UGC re-notified the Community College Scheme. Seizing this chance for expansion, I successfully proposed and gained approval for introducing an Advanced Diploma in TV Media Production. This development elevated DM Community College's academic portfolio to three specialized vocational programs: Medical Lab Technology, Fruits & Vegetables Technology, and the newly added TV Media Production.This period of professional transition highlighted several critical aspects of educational leadership in Manipur - the challenges of implementing progressive reforms within traditional systems, the complexities of dual administrative roles, and the persistent need to balance institutional expectations with visionary expansion of vocational education opportunities. Through it all, the government's endorsement of this unconventional leadership model ultimately enabled the continued growth and diversification of the Community College initiative.
My Defining Presentation for KAUSHAL Kendra
The interface meeting for securing approval for the DDU-KAUSHAL Kendra at DM College of Science was unlike any other institution's experience. While principals typically presented their proposals with faculty support, I stood alone—not as the principal of DM College of Science, but as the Nodal Officer of its Community College. Principal Dr. P. Ranabir Singh had entrusted me with this responsibility, a testament to his confidence in my capabilities. This was no ordinary task; it was my opportunity to prove my detractors wrong.
The road to this presentation had been arduous. For seven sleepless nights, I meticulously drafted and redrafted the proposal, refining every detail. This effort came at a time when senior faculty members publicly questioned my appointment as principal, with local newspapers amplifying their criticisms. The accusations stung, but silence was my only shield.
I prepared ten Power Point slides—each designed to convey critical information in just one minute, leaving five minutes for discussion. Despite rigorous rehearsal, the presentation stretched to twelve minutes; every slide was indispensable. Four slides focused on Radio Imaging Technology in healthcare, while six highlighted Digital Multimedia Technology—a field close to my heart, given my background in media.
To personalize the proposal, I included images of myself anchoring television programs, as well as students training in MLT labs and interning with industry partners.
The committee was visibly impressed—not just by the infrastructure and implementation plans, but by the passion behind the proposal. The Q&A session extended beyond the allotted time, lasting nearly ten minutes. One expert commended my oratory skills, remarking that my voice carried the clarity of a radio broadcaster. Another, however, challenged my assertion that India’s dream of a skilled nation would remain unfulfilled without training Manipuri youth.
My response was unequivocal: ‘Manipur sits at the crossroads of Asia’s future—where the AH1 (Turkey to Japan) and AH2 (Iran to Indonesia) super-highways will converge at Moreh, just 100 km from Imphal. This will provide a huge opportunity to the youths of Manipur. Over 90% of youth in China, Japan, and Korea are already skilled professionals, flooding our markets with affordable, high-quality goods. If Manipur’s youth are not trained to compete, India’s skill mission will falter at its eastern gateway’. The room fell silent.
(To be contd)
Contd from previous issue
There I stand engaged in animated discussion with senior policymakers during the historic Consultative Meeting for the New Education Policy at Vigyan Bhawan on August 11, 2015. This UGC-convened gathering represented the culmination of my journey from establishing Manipur's first community college to shaping national skills education policy.The invitation to this meeting, bearing the letterhead of UGC Chairman Prof. Ved Prakash (D.O. No. F.1-7/2015(CM), 21 July 2015), remains a cherished milestone. His words—"As an expert with wide experience on these themes, I invite you to contribute to an outcome document for the Ministry"—validated years of pioneering work. This recognition, my first direct summons from the UGC leadership, filled me with both pride and resolve.
In the invitation letter for the Consultative Meeting, I was informed to share my experience in two themes viz I) Improving the Quality of Regulation and II) Integrating Skill Development in Higher Education. The contents of the invitation were widely published in the leading local newspapers.
My selection likely stemmed from earlier contributions: 1) on December 2014: presented at UGC’s Workshop on Skills in Higher Education (Vigyan Bhawan) and 2) on February 2013: played a key role in the International Workshop on Mainstreaming Skill Education (MHRD), collaborating with 500 delegates—including 90 international experts—to draft National Occupational Standards (NOS) for healthcare and food sectors.
At the 2015 consultative meeting, exchanges with luminaries like Prof. K.P. Singh and Dr. Nikhil Kumar (architects of DDU-KAUSHAL) proved inva- luable. Within days, their insights bore fruit: on 14 August 2015, UGC approved DM College of Science as an institute to host a DDU-KAUSHAL Kendra with ?4.15 crore funding (2015–17) to launch B. Voc./M. Voc. programs in Radio Imaging Technology and Digital Multimedia Technology. This sanction transformed our earlier Advanced Diploma programs (Medical Lab Technology, Fruits & Vegetables Technology, TV Media Productions) into full-fledged degree pathways. The Kendra became, in essence, a micro-skill university—offering stac-kable credentials from certificates to PhDs, all under one visionary frame- work.
My Appointment as Regular Principal and Dual Leadership Role
I achieved a significant career milestone when I was appointed as the Regular Principal through Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) vide its recommendation notified on 4th November 2014. This appointment, formalized through Govt Orders dated 14 November 2014, marked an important moment in Manipur's higher education landscape - being among the first regular Principal appointments in the state after a gap of nearly three decades.Within days of this appointment, on 20 November 2014, a subsequent Government Order mandated that I continue serving as Nodal Officer of DM Community College alongside my new role as Principal of Manipur College. This dual appointment, while recognizing my ongoing contributions to voca- tional education, unfortunately intensified existing tensions. The year 2015 brought new opportunities when the UGC re-notified the Community College Scheme. Seizing this chance for expansion, I successfully proposed and gained approval for introducing an Advanced Diploma in TV Media Production. This development elevated DM Community College's academic portfolio to three specialized vocational programs: Medical Lab Technology, Fruits & Vegetables Technology, and the newly added TV Media Production.This period of professional transition highlighted several critical aspects of educational leadership in Manipur - the challenges of implementing progressive reforms within traditional systems, the complexities of dual administrative roles, and the persistent need to balance institutional expectations with visionary expansion of vocational education opportunities. Through it all, the government's endorsement of this unconventional leadership model ultimately enabled the continued growth and diversification of the Community College initiative.
My Defining Presentation for KAUSHAL Kendra
The interface meeting for securing approval for the DDU-KAUSHAL Kendra at DM College of Science was unlike any other institution's experience. While principals typically presented their proposals with faculty support, I stood alone—not as the principal of DM College of Science, but as the Nodal Officer of its Community College. Principal Dr. P. Ranabir Singh had entrusted me with this responsibility, a testament to his confidence in my capabilities. This was no ordinary task; it was my opportunity to prove my detractors wrong.
The road to this presentation had been arduous. For seven sleepless nights, I meticulously drafted and redrafted the proposal, refining every detail. This effort came at a time when senior faculty members publicly questioned my appointment as principal, with local newspapers amplifying their criticisms. The accusations stung, but silence was my only shield.
I prepared ten Power Point slides—each designed to convey critical information in just one minute, leaving five minutes for discussion. Despite rigorous rehearsal, the presentation stretched to twelve minutes; every slide was indispensable. Four slides focused on Radio Imaging Technology in healthcare, while six highlighted Digital Multimedia Technology—a field close to my heart, given my background in media.
To personalize the proposal, I included images of myself anchoring television programs, as well as students training in MLT labs and interning with industry partners.
The committee was visibly impressed—not just by the infrastructure and implementation plans, but by the passion behind the proposal. The Q&A session extended beyond the allotted time, lasting nearly ten minutes. One expert commended my oratory skills, remarking that my voice carried the clarity of a radio broadcaster. Another, however, challenged my assertion that India’s dream of a skilled nation would remain unfulfilled without training Manipuri youth.
My response was unequivocal: ‘Manipur sits at the crossroads of Asia’s future—where the AH1 (Turkey to Japan) and AH2 (Iran to Indonesia) super-highways will converge at Moreh, just 100 km from Imphal. This will provide a huge opportunity to the youths of Manipur. Over 90% of youth in China, Japan, and Korea are already skilled professionals, flooding our markets with affordable, high-quality goods. If Manipur’s youth are not trained to compete, India’s skill mission will falter at its eastern gateway’. The room fell silent.
(To be contd)