The School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, recently held an Advisory Committee Meeting to evaluate and enhance its Master’s Programme in Biotechnology. The meeting served as a platform for discussions involving academia, industry representatives, skill sector experts, and other stakeholders to strengthen the curriculum, improve program structure, and ensure overall academic excellence. The M.Sc. Biotechnology program at the School is fully funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

The meeting was chaired by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Umesh Rai, and attended by distinguished experts, including Prof. Madan Mohan Chaturvedi and Prof. Manoj Prasad (academic experts), Mr. Goutam Bhattacharya (skill sector expert), Dr. Govind Rao (industry representative), and Mr. Manoj Kumar (DBT Program Officer). Additionally, senior university officials, core and associated faculty members of the School of Biotechnology were also present.

Expressing his appreciation for the School’s contribution to the University’s NAAC A++ accreditation, Prof. Umesh Rai commended the faculty, staff, and students for their relentless efforts in fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. He highlighted the importance of industry-oriented projects for M.Sc. students' dissertations and emphasized the need to introduce more skill-based courses, promote a startup culture, and establish stronger industry collaborations. Prof. Rai expressed satisfaction with the School’s progress and encouraged further advancements in research and innovation.

Prof. Madan Mohan Chaturvedi, Vice Chancellor of SGT University, Gurugram, lauded the School’s achievements and stressed the need to shift from a teacher-centric to a learner-centric approach. He suggested that education should focus on hands-on experiences, allowing students to explore, investigate, and innovate rather than merely absorbing content. Prof. Manoj Prasad, from the Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, encouraged students to apply for fellowships and internships and gain practical exposure through certificate courses offered by prestigious national institutes.

Mr. Goutam Bhattacharya, CEO of the Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC), New Delhi, underscored the importance of academia-industry collaboration. He proposed curriculum restructuring to align with industry requirements and suggested incorporating LSSSDC-certified courses to meet the growing demands of the Life Sciences sector. He also assured full support for the University in developing industry-relevant skill-based programs and enhancing its University-Industry interface.

Representing the industry sector, Dr. Govind Rao Adireddi, Founder and CEO of NMC Genetics, Gurugram, highlighted the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in bioinformatics. Given the vast amount of biological data generated, AI can significantly aid in data analysis and interpretation. He emphasized that AI-driven education can inspire innovation, preparing students for the AI-driven workforce. To facilitate this, he proposed conducting AI-based workshops and seminars in the near future.

Dr. Manoj Kumar, DBT Program Officer, expressed his satisfaction with the School’s progress and the DBT-supported M.Sc. program. He praised the quality of education, research opportunities, and the enthusiasm of students, noting that their active engagement reflects the program’s success. He was particularly impressed by the placement records of alumni, who have secured prestigious positions both nationally and internationally. He also reiterated that DBT annually reviews the progress of funded departments before granting further financial support.

Prof. Anju Bhasin Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammudiscussed the adoption of NEP 2020 by the University and expressed the desire to know guidelines and framework for biotechnology education and admissions adopted by DBT. She complemented the School for regular curriculum revision and inclusion of skill based courses and experiential learning.

Prof. Meena Sharma, Dean Planning and Development, University of Jammu lauded the efforts of the School for excellent infrastructure put in place. She said that the state - of the art laboratories, well equipped ICT enabled classrooms and modern research facilities are truly world class. Prof. Yashpal Sharma, Dean Faculty of Life Sciences appreciated that the School has created a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment and actively contributes to community engagement and Scientific Social Responsibilities. Besides, the research labs are designed to foster collaboration and innovation among students and faculty as is evident from the research publications and Extra Mural Funding attracted by the School.

Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Registrar, University of Jammu also attended the meeting and assured all possible support for the strengthening of the program.

Earlier, Program Coordinator, Prof. Sanjana Kaul, Director, School of Biotechnology while presenting progress report, mentioned that the School has been established in the year 1999 with a generous funding support from Department of Biotechnology, GoI. Over the years, School of Biotechnology has been instrumental in taking up various initiatives for the development of education and research fields.

Prof. Kaul also informed the house that besides, DBTGoI, the School is supported by funding under DST FIST, DST PURSE, DST SAP, RUSA MHRD, DBT BUILDER, besides Extra Mural Funding to individual faculty members from DBT, DST, ICMR, NMPB, CSIR, JKSTIC/DST, UGC, DST DAAD etc. and expressed gratitude to all the funding agencies. Admission to the M.Sc. Biotechnology program is through the highly competitive Graduate Aptitude Test Biotechnology (GAT-B), conducted by the DBT, Government of India through Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad and NTA. Students admitted to the program are entitled forstudentship of Rs. 5000 per month, which is likely to be increased. Since its inception the School has proudly graduated over 500 students, many of whom have excelled in national tests like NET-JRF (CSIR-UGC), BET-JRF (DBT), NET-JRF (ICMR), GATE etc. and have gained placement in prestigious internationally and nationally renowned institutes. During the meeting, the committee conducted a comprehensive review of progress of the masters program being run in the School of Biotechnology and held discussion on different components such as curriculum revision, establishment of Academy Industry linkages, skill development and employability besides other aspects.

In her address, Prof. Sanjana Kaul expressed appreciation for the DBTs continued support, stating, "This meeting has provided invaluable insights into the research trajectory and has reinforced our commitment to driving impactful biotechnology solutions. The School of Biotechnology remains dedicated to fostering scientific innovation and strengthening collaborations.”

Prof. Jyoti Vakhlu, Professor in the School proposed the formal vote of thanks extending gratitude to Honourable Vice Chancellor and to all the members of the advisory committee for their valuable inputs.

The meeting was also attended by all the core faculty members of the School Prof. B. K. Bajaj, Prof Madhulika Bhagat, Dr.Ritu Mahajan and Dr. Nisha Kapoor and also by the associated faculty members Dr. Yashpal Khajuria, Dr. Ankit Mahajan, Dr Sheetal Ambardar and Dr. Bharathiraja.