From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 1: Four of the leading colleges in the twin costal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi – St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College, Ujire, and School of Life Sciences (MAHE) (Deemed to be University), Udupi – are among 18 top colleges in the State selected for the Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme (BiSEP).
The BiSEP programme will feature an enhanced and enriched course curriculum that is aligned with the National Vocational Educational Quality Framework (NVEQF).
The Siddaramaiah government is taking the lead in implementing the Bio Technology Finishing School (BTFS) programme as part of the thrust to promote bio-technology in the State after the quantum lead in the IT sector.
Under the BTFS programme set up by the Karnataka government in 2011 in 12 major institutions across the State, considerable success has been achieved in terms of training young, eager students, providing them with fulfilling internship and employment opportunities and growing the budding bio-technology sector in the state.
But by far the most valuable contribution the scheme has made, is in generating and enhancing knowledge, and creating jobs for the future and now efforts are being made to expand the programme even further and taking the next big leap in Biotechnology knowledge and job creation.
The BTFS was established in 12 institutions across Karnataka for the period of five years [2011 – 2016]. Government of Karnataka provided these 12 institutions with an equipment grant of Rs.100 Crore.
The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India supported these institutions with a Rs.10000 per month fellowship to students joining BTFS program.
The first of its kind initiative in the country was envisioned to bridge the gap between industry requirements and quality of students by providing students the experience of real-life industry-oriented experience, working on problems beyond the regular academic curriculum.
Further, beginning 2011, an all-India aptitude and entrance test for the Biotechnology programme -- called the Karnataka Biotechnology Aptitude Test (K-BAT) -- was conducted. Since the first year, over 730 students have successfully completed the course with overall job placement record of 70%.
For students, the BTFS programme not only offered employment opportunities, but the thrill and motivation of working in a path-breaking cutting edge field. BTFS graduates salaries have also grown every year, with starting salaries growing by 30% between 2011 and 2016.
Additionally, more than 300 companies have come forward to be associated with BTFS program, and have provided students with internship and job opportunities. The program was successfully implemented and has gained immense popularity amongst the biotech and life science students across India.
The state government’s Biotechnology Policy v3.0 (2017-2022) emphasizes building on the success of BTFS by optimizing the course structure and introducing additional initiatives to foster R&D and entrepreneurship and ensure availability of industry-ready and skilled manpower at different job levels.
Accordingly, the BTFS programme has now been revamped. Called the Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme (BiSEP), it will now be presented in collaboration with the Life Science Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC) and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT).
The curriculum will also be tailored to incorporate the latest industry trends and technologicaladvances. The Karnataka State Cabinet on July 5, 2017 has given approval for rolling out BiSEP in the State for 5 years with a total budget of Rs.44.17 Crore. Of this, the State government will be contributing Rs.31.21, the rest coming from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
Announcing the new state Biotechnology policy and the revamped BiSEP programme, Priyank Kharge, Minister for IT, BT, S&T, government of Karnataka said, “Karnataka has always taken the lead in promoting new fields of study. Our state is known for its prowess in science, technology, and research. It is therefore no surprise that we are also leaders in Biotechnology. The new Biotechnology Skill Enhancement Programme will create future leaders and innovators in the field, and generate thousands of jobs for our youth!”
18 institutions have been identified to host the new BiSEP programme, spread across 8 districts of the state. The institutions have been selected based on a variety of parameters, by duly constituted selection committee of academic and industry experts.
Names of the Institutions
* B.V.Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering & Technology, Hubballi
* Basaveshwar Engineering College, Bagalkote
* Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering, Bengaluru.
* IABT, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
* JSS College of Arts, Commerce & comp; Science, Mysuru
* M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru
* Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women, Bengaluru
* Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru
* Padmashree Institute of Management & Science, Bengaluru
*PES University, Bengaluru
*School of Life Sciences, MAHE (Deemed-to be University), Udupi
* SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad
*Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College, Ujire
* Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru
*St Aloysius College, Mangaluru
* The Oxford College of Science, Bengaluru
* University of Gulbarga, Kalaburagi
*Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru
These 18 institutes will offer unique job-oriented, one year, Post-Graduate Diploma which will impart specific industry-oriented skills-sets in specialized areas of Biotechnology: Bioinformatics and Big Data Analytics; Biopharmaceutical Technology, Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics; Clinical Research and Data Management; Fermentation and Bioprocessing; Multiomics Technology; Nutraceuticals and Food Processing; Plant Genetic Engineering and Protein Expression and Scale-up.
Further, over 100 biotech/life sciences companies have signed memorandums of understanding with the host institutions to provide internship opportunities to the students joining the program.
Priyank Kharge said that the renewed focus of BiSEP is not only to impart industry specific skills and meet the trained manpower needs of the industry, but also ensure that the students are mentored and nurtured to entrepreneurship in various areas of biotechnology domains and create a start-up ecosystem within the BiSEP Host Institutes.
Apart from collaboration with the LSSDC, and the IICT-CSIR, the enhanced BiSEP programme will also be guided by the Association for Biotech Led Enterprises (ABLE) - an industry body that will ensure effective implementation of the programme.
In order to join the program the candidate should have a Masters degree in Biotech, Life Sciences or related subjects, with a minimum 50% score across the course, or a B.E/B.Tech degree in Biotechnology or Bioinformatics, with a minimum 50% marks across all subjects. Alternatively, students of B. Pharma, B.Agri, or B.Vc. as well as students of 4 year degree courses in any branch of Life Sciences may take the entrance test for the BiSEP programme.
The minimum marks for students belonging to SC/ST categories will be 40% in the qualifying degree examination. Out of the total of 360 seats, 50% of the seats are reserved for Resident Students of Karnataka. Reservations are also made for students belonging to OBCs/SC/ST and Hyderabad - Karnataka regions.
The course fee is Rs. 50000 per student. The resident students of Karnataka joining the program are eligible for Rs. 25000 tuition fees subvention by Government of Karnataka. All students joining the program shall be provided with monthly fellowship amount of Rs.10000.
Selection to the program is through online entrance test “Karnataka Biotechnology Aptitude Test (K- BAT) that can be taken from anywhere with a good internet facility. Application are invited from eligible students for first batch under the program and the last date to register for online test is February 10, 2018.
Application form, modalities for submission of online application for KBAT, online exam fees, course fees, list of host institutes and all other terms and conditions are available at www.bisep.karnataka.gov.in.
The government of Karnataka is pushing for growth and all-around development in science, technology, as a way to take the state and its citizens to the future and the BiSEP programme is the next step in this, says an official press release.