Stakeholders Workshop to deliberate on the theme Academia-Industry-Alumni- for Curriculum Modification & Pedagogy Development at ICAR-NDRI. Karnal under IDP (NAHEP) Project

A two days workshop on Incentivizing Dairy Education through Innovative Learning Approaches inaugurated at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal during 8-9 June, 2018. The workshop was attended by 61 delegates representing Industry, Academia and Alumni. While inaugurating the workshop, Dr. P. Ramasundaram, National Coordinator, National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP), ICAR, New Delhi said that ICAR has formulated an ambitious project for five year starting from 2017-18 to raise the standard of agricultural educational in the country with an objective to provide more jobs to students and to inculcate the traits of entrepreneurship in students. He further said that NAHEP project has a total outlay of Rs. 1100 crore and its cost will be shared on 50:50 basis between the World Bank and Government of India. The project will be implemented by ICAR through its Educational Division. An Institutional Development Plan (IDP) for Incentivizing Dairy Education through Innovative Learning Approaches has been competitively awarded to NDRI.

Dr. R.R.B. Singh, Director, NDRI said that the project will enhance the students’ soft skill and professional skill and will prepare NDRI students for Indian as well as Global Dairy Industry. He said under this project greater emphasis will be given on creating more industry oriented module as well linkages with industries to improve the problem solving skills in the dairy graduates of the institute. Dr. J. Punjarath, OSD at AMUL (GCMMF) & Mr. M.K. Pandita, Regional Director, Technical Operations, Abbott Health Care Ltd., Gurgoan, illustrious alumni of NDRI, Karnal shared their views on current status of dairy industry and expectations from the dairy technology graduates. Dr. Sumit Arora, Organizing Secretary of the workshop introduced the themes namely Curricula & Pedagogy and Industry-Academia-Alumni Participation. Following points were discussed during the two days workshop viz. 1. Curricula to be learning outcome centric with scope to enhance self-study, problem solving skills, etc.; Introduction of novel / need-based courses; Nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship; Raising proficiency and employability skills; Aspirations of industry from NDRI dairy graduates; Engaging alumni / industry leaders / overseas faculty (on-campus & virtual) for mentoring and nurturing innovation; Alumni participation for higher education & global placements of NDRI Dairy Graduates; Scope for industry / alumni involvement for sustaining this program The recommendations emerged during the workshop were recorded for necessary implementation.

Glimpses of stakeholder workshop organized at NDRI, Karnal during 8-9 June, 2018