The Islamic University of Science and Technology was promulgated by an Act of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislative Assembly in November 2005. The Chancellor of the university is the Chief Minister, ex officio, of the State, and its Board is the Board of Directors of the J&K Muslim Wakf Board. The Executive Council, chaired by the Vice Chancellor, is the executive authority of the university.
The university has been set up as a centre for higher learning for the people of the Jammu and Kashmir State and its neighbouring regions. The strong science and technology curriculum will be complemented by a School of Humanities & Social Sciences. For while paying heed to a job-oriented curriculum, the university firmly believes that if a significant awareness of the humanities will help future generations understand social trends and human aspirations as they enter the workforce. And it will equip them to contribute towards bettering the conditions of their communities and understanding the value of plurality in society.
So, the university has begun two centres in the Humanities; the Ibn Khaldun Center for Comparative Civilizations and the Rinchen Shah Centre for West Himalayan Cultures. Both will facilitate research for scholars and impart a core curriculum in the humanities. Through this balance, the university aims to provide the right academic environment for both students (who are seeking a career) and scholars (who are looking to further their understanding of humanity and the world). This focus on career development and overall personality enhancement is yet another way in which the university tries to ensure education for leadership.