Education gets integrated approach

Gulneet Chahal

With the growing din around conventional degree courses churning out unemployable passive learners, devoid of critical and creative thinking, past few years have seen a spurt in student enrolment in integrated degree programmes. These programmes offer the advantage of not having to write an entrance exam for admission to the master’s degree, besides ensuring better rapport with faculty over a period of five years.  

Students seeking admissions to various courses after Class XII should examine the scope of integrated courses. The curriculum offers an in-depth and hands-on learning in the subject. Integrated degree programmes not just offer better insight into subjects, but also ensure better employment opportunities due to a multidisciplinary approach. Integrated MSc (Hons) programme in microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, botany and zoology at Punjab Agricultural University’s College of Basic Sciences and Humanities opens a world of opportunities for students.

Integrated courses are based on application of knowledge. “Students spend a lot of time in state-of-the-art labs,” says SS Hundal, Professor and head, Department of Zoology. Besides placements in universities, colleges and schools, the industry-focused curricula of integrated masters’ degree programmes in zoology at PAU target jobs in the research and development department of Indian Council of Medical Research, Zoological Survey of India, Forensic Sciences, Embryo Transfer Labs, Indian Forest Service and pharmaceutical companies”, he further adds.

KK Chahal, senior professor of the Department of Chemistry says, “Postgraduates in chemistry can find ample job opportunities in agrochemicals, petrochemicals and toiletries, food processing, chemical and paint manufacturing units, paper and textile industries and in various educational institutes and independent laboratories.”

Students pursuing integrated masters’ degree programmes can take up extensive research experience along with thesis writing during the last two years. 

Students can also opt for jobs in academic and research institutes as well as get placements in applied fields of agriculture, food, dairy, pharmaceutical and fermentation industries. “In addition, the students can also invest in their own firm and be an entrepreneur in areas like bio-fertilizer production, mushroom production, fermented food and beverage production as young budding entrepreneurs,” says Shammi Kapoor, Head, Department of Microbiology. Students are provided hands-on trainings in all such areas during their integrated programme.

Option to exit

Students also have the option to the exit the integrated programme after three years, in which case they are given a BSc degree. Sucheta Sharma, head, Department of Biochemistry, PAU, adds that there are career avenues in hospitals, pharma companies, food industry as biochemical analysts and quality control officers.

Scripting success stories

Saurav Singla, Prabhjot Khanna and Shiminder jit Singh Brar passed out of the integrated master’s in microbiology in 2016 after their research on vinegar production. They put their minds together for a start-up, Micro Foods, and started manufacturing apple cider and sugarcane vinegar. “PAU gave us the knowhow and faculty encouraged us to chase our dreams. There has been no looking back ever since,” says Saurav Singla. Micro Foods is now catering to a growing demand of apple cider vinegar. Agriculture and health foods is a niche area with massive potential for growth. Less competition is another advantage. Prabhjot traded a BTech degree for Integrated MSc (Hons) at PAU. Hiranmay, an alumunus,  completed his integrated master’s in microbiology in 2016 and is working as an analytical expert in a pharmaceutical company. He says that the study of nanoscience, ecoscience and  business management courses as a part of the Integrated MSc degree helped him secure the job.

Eligibility

Class XII equivalent with physics, chemistry and mathematics/ biology/ agriculture with at least 50 per cent marks in aggregate

— The writer is Assistant Director, Centre for Communication and International Linkages