Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 11: The School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, recently held an Advisory Committee Meeting to evaluate and enhance its Master’s Programme in Biotechnology.
The M Sc Biotechnology program at the School is fully funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The meeting was chaired by Vice Chancellor, Prof Umesh Rai, and attended by distinguished experts, including Prof Madan Mohan Chaturvedi and Prof Manoj Prasad (academic experts), Goutam Bhattacharya (skill sector expert), Dr Govind Rao (Industry representative), and Manoj Kumar (DBT Program Officer). Additionally, senior university officials, core and associated faculty members of the School of Biotechnology were also present.
Prof Umesh Rai highlighted the importance of industry-oriented projects for M Sc students’ dissertations and emphasized the need to introduce more skill-based courses, promote a startup culture, and establish stronger industry collaborations.
Prof Madan Mohan Chaturvedi, Vice Chancellor of SGT University, Gurugram, suggested that education should focus on hands-on experiences, allowing students to explore, investigate, and innovate rather than merely absorbing content.
Prof Manoj Prasad from the Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, encouraged students to apply for fellowships and internships and gain practical exposure through certificate courses offered by prestigious national institutes.
Goutam Bhattacharya, CEO of the Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC), New Delhi, proposed curriculum restructuring to align with industry requirements and suggested incorporating LSSSDC-certified courses to meet the growing demands of the Life Sciences sector.
Representing the industry sector, Dr Govind Rao Adireddi, Founder and CEO of NMC Genetics, Gurugram, highlighted the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in bioinformatics.
Dr Manoj Kumar, DBT Program Officer, informed that DBT annually reviews the progress of funded departments before granting further financial support.
Prof Anju Bhasin Dean Academic Affairs, JU discussed the adoption of NEP 2020 by the University and expressed the desire to know guidelines and framework for biotechnology education and admissions adopted by DBT.
Prof Meena Sharma, Dean Planning and Development, JU, said that the state – of the art laboratories, well equipped ICT enabled classrooms and modern research facilities are truly world class.
Prof Yashpal Sharma, Dean Faculty of Life Sciences appreciated that the School has created a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.
Dr Neeraj Sharma, Registrar, JU, also attended the meeting and assured all possible support for the strengthening of the program.
Earlier, Program Coordinator, Prof Sanjana Kaul, Director, School of Biotechnology, presented progress report
Prof Sanjana Kaul expressed appreciation for the DBTs continued support. Prof Jyoti Vakhlu, Professor in the School proposed the formal vote of thanks.
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