Islamic University of Science and Technology - University Centers

University Centers

  • International Centre for Spiritual Studies

International Centre for Spiritual Studies (ICSS) has been established to conduct and promote studies and research on Spirituality in order to attain contentment and to provide an appropriate spiritual response to the growing ideological conflicts, and cultural & intellectual challenges of the fast dehumanizing world. ICSS is purely academic & research oriented Centre with a mandate of working on numerous necessitating and burning issues vis a vis spiritual vacuum which a human being is facing at present. ICSS is having a immense potential of emerging as the Centre of distinction and excellence and will not only strengthen the legacy of our ancestors but will also become a hub of intellectual growth in this region in order to emerge as a coherent representative of spiritual enlightenment.

The basic aim is to create an arena which not only will be an inspirational unit of peace and tranquillity but will also be an epitome of unique discourse in introducing the importance of moral and spiritual values amongst our students, in order to facilitate them to possess strong features of contentment in their lives. ICSS is going to lay special stress on the teaching of moral & spiritual values, as moral values particularly refer to the conduct of man towards man in the various situations in which human beings come together in the home, in social and economic fields and in life of the outside world generally. It is essential that the moral values should be inculcated in our students which will persist and influence their lives afterwards. Values will impose proper restraint and remove harshness in the words and rudeness in the behaviour. We have been losing our values rather rapidly and it is necessary that we should recover them. ICSS endeavours to pursue quality research to unearth the contribution of Saints, Sufis and Sages towards making the conflicting world into a heavenly abode full of tranquillity, love and patience.

The University has initiated a process of teaching ‘Moral & Spiritual Studies’ to all the students who join IUST. ICSS has also framed a syllabus for the course. By virtue of ICSS our students will get exposed to various dimensions of spiritual manifestations and will acquaint the traits of patience, tolerance, brotherhood, respect for all and togetherness in their personalities which will certainly be an add-on and make them distinct from other individuals.

  • Rinchen Shah Center for West Himalayan Cultures

Rinchen Shah Center for West Himalayan Cultures (RSCWHC) has been conceived as a research center to help the State’s citizens better understand their immediate surroundings from an ethnographic, linguistic, anthropological and cultural perspective. The center defines “West Himalaya” as the regions known to us today as Kullu-Manali, Lahul-Spiti, Ladakh-Baltistan, Gilgit, Kashmir, Jammu and the hill tracks. RSCWHC will research, document and catalogue the human communities in this region and study how they bound together by geography and language and have overlapping ethnic and linguistic affiliations that create a continuum of frontiers cultures.

So far, the Center has published a book and several research articles on the area. The Center is working on three minor research projects titled: “Ladakh’s trade relations with neighbouring areas”, “Violence, Trauma and Quality of Life: An Anthropological Study in the Context of Kashmir” and in the aftermath of flash flood disaster in Ladakh region, a rapid appraisal of disaster impact assessment was also conducted. Apart from teaching assignment at CIR, the Center is offering two elective courses through General Education Curriculum (GEC) for the professional undergraduates students of the University.

The Center and Kargil Social and Cultural Organization have signed Memorandum of Understanding, whereby, the Rinchen Shah Centre shall provide expertise to the Kargil Social and Cultural Organization. Such expertise shall include academic, conceptual, logistical, and infrastructural assistance to the project of Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, undertaken by the Kargil Social and Cultural Organisation with the aim of establishing the first ever museum of its kind in Ladakh of Central Asian Trade and Kargil arts and artifacts.


  • Mantaqi Center for Science and Society

Transforming Knowledge into Practice: Mantaqi Center for Science and Society aspires to combine research and education in natural sciences with the insights of social sciences and humanities in order to utilize fresh perspectives on major public issues involving science and technology. The Center will bring together natural scientists, social scientists and policy makers to engage in innovative and interdisciplinary research projects and make science relevant to our community and future generations. Through conferences, workshops and publications the Center will disseminate outstanding work and encourage scientific enquiry skills critical to future innovation.

Activities: Work has begun on several projects at the Center including the creation of a biodiversity park at IUST. During the past year the Center also organized a pottery workshop on campus with the aim to revive this traditional element of our heritage and infuse new ideas in this old craft so that it is marketable and profitable in a contemporary setting. The event included pottery demonstrations by local potters, a lecture on pottery by Dr. Jyoti Singh and a marketing plan competition for students.

The Center has also started a new Reach Out and Mentor (ROAM) tutoring program for children of a neighboring Darul- Aloom. These children come from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds and have no opportunities for formal education. Under the ROAM program the children are taught math, science and English by a volunteer group of faculty and students. The Center has also received a donation of two computers for this program from the NGO Child Nurture and Relief Kashmir (CHINAR Kashmir) which will help in further broadening its scope.

The faculty and staff associated with the Center continued their professional development by participating in relevant workshops and conferences including Praxis Annual Commune on Participatory Development and a national conference on Recent Trends in Biosciences

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