UAS, Dharwad, to offer B.Tech programme in food technology

Updated on: Monday, June 25, 2012

Following the growing demand for the courses in agricultural sciences, the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, has launched an innovative undergraduate engineering course — Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) in food technology — from this academic year.

Vice-Chancellor R.R. Hanchinal said that it is a self-financed course. The varsity has developed all the required facilities including teaching and learning infrastructure utilising funds released under the Rs. 50 crore special grants by the Union Government. The university will also invest over Rs. 10 crore for launching this course.

The total intake will be 30 and the university will consider enhancing it based on the response from the students. Also, there are plans to launch a M. Tech in food technology in the coming days. The course fee will be on par with the fee of other courses offered by the government engineering colleges and it may be around Rs. 40,000 per annum, he said.

Prof. Hanchinal said at present courses in food technology were being offered at the University Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, and the Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI). But in CFTRI all States have a quota and only two seats are available for students of Karnataka. Even in UAS, Bangalore, not all students could get admission. Moreover, the students from north Karnataka have to travel all the way to Bangalore to pursue this course. UAS, Dharwad, is the first institute to launch this course in the north Karnataka region.

The course coordinator, Nirmala Yenagi, said the growing food technology sector and the food processing industry had created demand for trained graduates in this field.

Apart from offering bright career opportunities, this course also helps the graduates to go for self-employment by setting up food processing units and enterprises.

The food technology courses have become more popular in the neighbouring Maharashtra and many graduates have emerged as thriving entrepreneurs there, Ms. Yenagi said.

Prof. Hanchinal said many foreign universities and research institutes have shown interest to collaborate with UAS, Dharwad, in different fields including teaching and research and development. Hence, the varsity was also contemplating introducing the dual degree programmes in the agricultural engineering and agricultural science courses. Here the students would get an opportunity to pursue education both at their university as well as at the foreign university with which the UAS, Dharwad, enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

More Education news

• Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees
• Heads of government and private schools directed to keep a close watch on the behaviour of teachers
• Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions submits his report
• Everyone will be given due representation says Goa CM
• Pune Education Department to hold meetings with schools to ensure a smooth RTE implementation
• Health and Medical Education, Forest and Home departments within the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act
• 'value education' courses in engineering colleges to inculcate better values and character building
• students challenge new NET gidelines
• Proposed multi crore edu city project nearing completion
• 21 engineering colleges affiliated to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to seek accreditation
• MBBS and PG medical seats to be increased by 50% and 100% respectively from academic year 2013-14
• M S University's faculty of fine arts mired in controversy over a painting hurting religious sentiment
• IICA inks MoU with Bangalore-based National Law School of India University for forging academic partnership
• President asks private players to contribute in improving the standards of higher education
• First technical and medical university at picturesque Apatani Plateau in lower Subansiri district
• Prayas scheme to be extended to 4 more districts
• Jamia Millia Islamia Professor gets Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
• Japans new government will not waive tution fee to pro-Pyongyang high schools
• Most Israeli high school students found accessing Mobile phone during class hours
• UGC notifies the procedure and criteria for declaration of result for NET to be conducted on 30.12.12