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DBT'S STAR SCHEME SUPPORTED 150 COLLEGES ACROSS INDIA SINCE 2008
Star scheme from the Department of Biotechnology lays emphasis on practical training to students by providing access to
specialized infrastructure and consumables besides organizing faculty training.
It is vital to attract undergraduate students to pursue higher
studies in science by providing them practical exposure. In
this context, the Department of Biotechnology's 'Star College
Scheme' aims to brand and nurture excellence in
undergraduate science education. There are 150 colleges
supported under scheme since 2008. It supports
laboratories, library, teaching aids, networking with
neighboring institutes, hands-on training and minor
research projects to undergraduate science students. 16
colleges have been given star status with double budget
provision, as per DBT. At the same time, 48 colleges
discontinued after successful completion of one tenure.
Star scheme is focusing improving curriculum with emphasis
on practical training to students by providing access to
specialized infrastructure and consumables and scale up the
skills of teachers by organizing faculty training.
At present, 102 colleges through the country are being
supported under the star colleges’ scheme and steps are
being taken to include more. Star college scheme has been
divided in two categories viz. strengthening of support for undergraduate education and Star college status. Criteria for
selection as a “Star College” are very stringent and budget provision is double for colleges accorded star status.
The scheme strengthens physical infrastructure in laboratories, library, teaching aids and promotes networking with
neighboring institutes. Hands-on training and projects of day to day relevance which is a crucial component of scheme have
enhanced interest in students to pursue science courses at Undergraduate level. Laboratory manuals have been developed
under the scheme which are being refined and will be shared amongst all participating colleges.
Opportunities to learn from stalwarts and visits to nearby institutes and universities are provided under the scheme. The
programme lays emphasis on inter-departmental and inter-disciplinary interactions. Innovative minor research exposures to
students by projects of day to day relevance are being encouraged. Faculty improvement workshops in collaboration with
British Council are being oarganised to train the trainers. Workshops on handling of sophisticated equipment, safety
precautions for pathogenic organisms, hazardous chemicals and waste disposal are being organized for laboratory staff. The
colleges are engaged in outreach activities for school students and neighbouring college students. The scheme has enabled
higher, enrolment in undergraduate science courses, increase in cut off percentage at time of admission, decline in dropout
rates, better pass percentage and higher enrollment in post graduate courses in science.
NCBS FACULTY MEMBERS AWARDED MAX
PLANCK-DST PARTNER GROUP AWARDS
The National Centre for Biological Sciences has
announced that their faculty member, Ms Radhika
Venkatesan has been awarded a Max Planck-DST
Partner group award. She joins Mr Vardharajan
Sundaramurthy as the second faculty member from
NCBS to receive this award. The Max Planck-DST
Partner group award will enable Venkatesan to
forge and strengthen a collaboration with Prof
Wilhelm Boland from the Max Planck Institute for
Chemical Ecology (MPI-CE) similar to the one
between Sundaramurthy's group with Prof. Marino
Zerial's team at the Max Planck Institute of
Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG).
Dr Radhika Venkatesan who will soon be heading
the newest Indian Partner Group in NCBS works on
the chemical ecology of plant interactions with
insects and microbes. Venkatesan, in collaboration
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BioVoiceNews | September 2016