BioVoice News August 2017 Issue 3 Volume 2 | Page 12

cover story with the biotechnology education system in India, 37.4 percent replied in negative while 31.9 percent are positive about it. 24. 2 percent consider it as bad and 6.5 percent thought it is worse. training? The 41.8 percent said they had all the necessary equipment in the lab. 34.1 percent pointed to presence of only few instruments whereas 20.9 percent said it was just the basic infrastructure. To the question on whether a drastic change is required in the biotech curriculum, 57.1 percent think that few improvements are required whereas 34.1 percent are of the view that drastic change is needed. 8.8 percent don’t feel any change is required at all. Career options: A tough cookie to crack! The next question that was asked to the students was whether they were aware about the Biotech Consortia India Limited and the fresh consultations by it over new syllabus. The 59.3 percent of the students said they haven’t heard about it at all. 36.3 percent were aware but didn’t participate in the exercise. The 63.7 percent feel that the biotechnology be introduced as separate subject at school level. 22 percent say that would be too early and 11 percent don’t feel there is any need to do so. Among the other basic questions was whether the practical laboratory was well equipped to provide the students with hands on 12 BioVoiceNews | August 2017 On the question of enough availability of career options for an average biotech student in India, 67 percent feel that there are not many, 14.3 percent feel that various barriers act as hindrance, 13.2 percent feel there are plenty of them. The 45 percent hadn’t attended any campus recruitment by companies, 38.5 percent said they never got a chance at all. 11 percent chose only once as the option. When asked about the biotech industry in India, 49.5 percent said they were aware while rest of 45.1 percent were aware to the some extent. Among the various names, Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw emerged as the favourite icon with 65.9 percent students voting for her. The students were very clear when asked which company they would prefer among few top choices. Whopping 67 percent were