Professor Amitabh Mattoo will continue in office as vice Chancellor, University of Jammu even after the expiry of his term, till a new Vice Chancellor is appointed. According to the Registrar of University of Jammu, Prof. GS Sambyal, the Chancellor of the University has approved that Amitabh Mattoo would continue as Vice Chancellor University of Jammu, till a new Vice Chancellor is appointed.
It is pertinent to mention here, that under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, the University has emerged as a socially responsive and responsible institution of higher learning. The University, has created a niche for itself by becoming the first public university in the country to have its quality management system certified under ISO 9001:2000. Laying strong emphasis on institutionalizing and internalizing quality, using Information and Communication Technology (ICT ) and developing world class infrastructure have been the thrust of the University, something which was little known and focused at, till the arrival of Professor Amitabh Mattoo on the higher education scenario of Jammu and Kashmir .
The public perception and brand image of the University have remarkably improved under his stewardship. The critical role played by University of Jammu during last six years in increasing access and enhancing quality of higher education is widely acclaimed.
The University of Jammu, because of its path breaking initiatives in leadership, corporate governance , quality assurance and healthy practices, has emerged as a benchmark and a role model for other Higher Education Institutions of the State.
The spectacular growth and development of the University in the last six years has already been recognized by the nation by conferring the Padam Shri in 2008. The citation of Padam Shri corroborates the fact and inter alia reads as "………….Under his stewardship, the University of Jammu has emerged as a centre of academic and extra curricular excellence……………………………..In 2002, Prof. Mattoo became the youngest Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu and during these years Jammu University has witnessed a radical transformation. In terms of its research, teaching, extra curricular activities and general ambience, the University of Jammu has truly embarked on an adventure of ideas. During these years, the University has also deeply engaged with the region’s civil society and launched many unprecedented initiatives. Prof.Mattoo’s leadership has given the University a new profile with the institution entering into academic collaboration with a host of top international institutions. In addition, during his tenure, the University of Jammu took the innovative decision to spread itself geographically to cover all parts of Jammu region by establishing campuses in various parts of Jammu like Bhaderwah, Kathua, and Poonch with sub centres/extension centres in Surankote, Reasi and Patnitop. The emphasis in these centres is on programmes like Business Management and IT with an aim to supply skilled manpower for India’s expanding knowledge economy as also to ensure that world class technical education is brought to the doorsteps of deserving students from remote parts of the state. The University has launched a series of path breaking civil society initiatives, including for the empowerment of rural women and marginal groups including Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis…………………….Prof Amitabh Mattoo has played a key role in promoting people to people contact between India and Pakistan, and has worked tirelessly for peace and stability in the region ……….."