Thrissur: Kerala Agricultural University's (KAU) academic council held here on Monday resolved to revise all curricula following recommendations of fifth dean's committee of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The 125th meeting chaired by vice-chancellor Dr P. Rajendran adopted the proposals by the board of studies in different faculties based on deans' panel report. The examination system is also revamped in consonance with the national pattern.
The VC told the house that last year university could adhere to the academic calendar and schedule in the conduct of examinations and declaration of results.
It has already instituted plagiarism check software and the protocols for adhering to plagiarism-free standards have been approved by the academic council. He also stressed that innovation in developing tools for small farms and homesteads should be the priority in PG/PhD research in agricultural engineering.
The hallmarks of revised syllabus for graduate-level courses is the introduction of common courses and student Ready (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) launched by the Prime Minister. The common courses introduced in all Agricultural Universities across the country are environmental studies and disaster management, communication skills and personality development, agricultural informatics, human values and ethics, agricultural heritage and physical education and Yoga practice.
The student Ready programme is tailored with interactive components such as experiential learning and hands-on training, skill development, rural agricultural work experience, industrial attachment and student projects. The programme, conceptualised for building skills like decision making, coordination, approach to problem-solving, quality control, resolving conflicts among others, will be implemented in the final two semesters of the four-year courses.
The council also authorised a committee of faculty deans to revise the procedure for PG/PhD thesis submission in tune with new regulations. The meeting was attended by registrar Dr K.Arvindakshan, Academic director Dr T.E.George, controller of examinations Dr.R.Krishnakumar, deans of Faculties, directors of Extension, Research and Students'Welfare, heads of academic institutions and elected representatives of teachers and students.
