SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Apr 12: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has promised grants for Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Ranchi, for construction and development of a women’s hostel and library. The university has been asked to submit a proposal.
The chairman of the accreditation team of ICAR, A. R Pathak, while on a five-day visit to BAU with a team, said, “After the accreditation is passed, the university can apply for development grants for building girls hostels and libraries in the campus.”
Pathak, the former vice-chancellor of Gujarat-based Navsari and Junagadh Agricultural Universities, was addressing teachers of BAU at Ranchi Agricultural College Auditorium when the audience drew his attention to the lack of latest research equipment in the departments and laboratories. The university has been asked to submit a proposal to the department of science and technology, department of biotechnology, government of India, and international agencies.
BAU In-charge (Media cell) Pankaj Vatsal said, “The officials were here for the assessment of the university. The five-year university accreditation ended last year, hence officials visited us again to review the university.”
Talking of changes between the review five years back and the one now, Vatsal said, “Back then we had four colleges, after 2016, however, we opened another seven colleges under us, five out of which were being accredited for the first time this year. The other two colleges are yet to pass out the first batch. As per rules, at least one batch should be passed from a particular college looking for accreditation. Hence, those two were not reviewed.”
Team member and former vice-chancellor of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, J Kumar, called for coordination between higher educational institutions for sharing of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.
- S Dhillon, another member of the team and retired assistant director-general (horticulture), ICAR, said, “PowerPoint presentations alone do not enhance knowledge and skills. Blackboard, dictation and presentation should be used equally in teaching.”
The BAU faculty made a presentation on academics, research, technology dissemination, seed production and student welfare activities, achievements and programmes of the university.
Chairman Pathak suggested increasing revenue from the internal sources of the university and regular meetings of the library committee.
The team members included V.K. Jain, the dean of Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar; D.P. Rai, agriculture dean of Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot; and K.P. Tripathi, the principal scientist of the education division of ICAR; were also present at the meeting. The members of the inspection team also visited various departments and fields of the university.
Six members of the team left for Deoghar, where they will inspect Rabindra Nath Tagore Agricultural College, Deoghar; Tilka Manjhi Agricultural College, Godda; and Phulo Jhano Murmu Dairy Technology College, Hansdiha, Dumka.
A.K. Poonia, the seventh member of the team and principal scientist of National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana visited the College of Fisheries Science, Gumla.
