PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Pantnagar
In an initiative to make education more industry-oriented, practical and employment-focused, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) plans to introduce the concept of bridge courses across all academic programmes, enabling students to interact with industry experts and successful entrepreneurs during their studies. The initiative aims to equip students with practical knowledge and prepare them for employment and entrepreneurship, said the vice-chancellor Shivendra Kumar Kashyap while addressing a press conference here on Monday. The university plans to launch this initiative from the current semester.
Under this initiative, students from Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Technology, Community Science, Fisheries, Agribusiness Management, Basic Science and Humanities and other disciplines would be connected with experts from their respective industries and these experts would guide students on industrial opportunities, market demands, startup development and career prospects, the VC said. “For instance, students of food technology will receive guidance from food processing companies, while students of seed science will interact with entrepreneurs associated with the seed industry. This engagement will help students gain a better understanding of the practical aspects of their subjects and the evolving requirements of the industrial sector,” he added.
Director, communication, GBPUAT, J P Jaiswal said that the university’s faculty members and Faculty Development Centre have been working on implementing this initiative for the past six months. “A database of leading industries and successful entrepreneurs from across the country has been prepared,” he added.
The VC further said that the initiative would go beyond conventional guest lectures and provide students with support through regular interactions, project evaluation, internships and placement opportunities. “Industry experts will engage with students through both online and offline modes. Their suggestions will also help the university update its curricula in accordance with the changing needs of the industrial sector,” he said.
