JOIN USGulbarga varsity launches microbial technology course
The one-year interdisciplinary course in the emerging areas is open to any student with life science background. Students with MSc in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Engineering graduates with any biology subject, Medical, Pharmacy, Agriculture, and Veterinary science graduates are all eligible for the course. The selection for the course will be made on national-level merit criteria.
Due to lack of information, only eight students have sought admission in the maiden year, while the sanctioned strength is 12.
Out of the eight students admitted, in the first year, seven are from MSc in Microbiology while one is a BE in Biotechnology. The regular classes will start this month.
The University Grants Commission has sanctioned Rs 40 lakh to Gulbarga varsity for purchase of necessary equipment and infrastructure.
‘Industry relevant’
Chairman of the Department of Microbiology Dr Y M Jayaraj told Deccan Herald that the new course was very useful as it gave value addition to the basic life sciences knowledge and makes the students industry-competent.
“Due to industrial exposure and practical orientation, the students will have greater chances of getting placement in various industries’’ Dr Jayaraj said, adding the course has extensive applications in the areas like microbiological industries, vaccine, enzymes, tanning and pharmaceutical industry. Besides the students emerging from the new course can have easy placement in quality control, research and development wing.
Enzyme treatment is said to be the latest trend in a number of industries replacing the chemical treatment. The new course extensively deals with enzyme treatment which creates better demand in the industry.
The two-phase course comprises two semesters. Phase I includes theory and practicals in the department, phase II involves a two-month placement in industrial/institutional R&D for a project work and phase-III covers theory and practicals. The course comes with an affordable fee.
For general merit students the fee for the entire course is Rs 13,220, for others it is Rs 4,420, and for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ backward classes candidates, the fee is only Rs 3,420.