An academia-industry meet was held here at the department of plant molecular biology and biotechnology, Dr RH Richharia Research laboratory at Indira Gandhi Agriculture University (IGAU). IGAU Public Relation Officer Dr KK Sahoo informed that the objective of the meet was to understand the need of local and national biotech industry so that these needs can be incorporated in varsity’s degree program thereby providing students with better chances of employment.
The meeting was attended by Dr Shiv Kant Shukla, Asstt. General Manager, Biotech Consortium India limited (BCIl), New Delhi and B. Ananda Babu, Secretary Biotechnology, Government of Chhattisgarh and private sector representatives During the programme, discussion was held on various points like inputs and expectations from industry for Human Resource Development.
This includes inputs for course curriculum, thesis planning, making student ready for industry, entrepreneurship development program and campus interview. Research priorities in the State were also discussed.
Possibilities of training industry personnel at IGAU were also pondered upon. The industry personnel widely appreciated infrastructural facilities developed, along with teaching and research activities in the university. The students also interacted with industry personnel and understood the possibilities of requirement for setting up of a viable biotech industry.
“Overall emphasis was to see the opportunities for students and their employment. The meeting will certainly help in promoting better understanding between IGKV and biotech industries. One of the companies namely Ankur Seeds have already expressed interest to carry out campus interview in the next few months,” Dr Sahoo informed.