- 15 Feb, 2024
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CUET UG increased diversity in agriculture courses: IARI dean
IARI, the top agricultural university, has launched BSc Agriculture programmes. It’s now designing certificate, diploma online courses.
NEW DELHI: Admission in undergraduate (UG) agriculture courses through the Common University Entrance Test – Undergraduate (CUET-UG) has led to an increase in diversity of students at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, said Anupama Singh, joint director (education) and dean of IARI.
Popularly known as Pusa Institute, IARI launched its BSc Agriculture programme in the 2022-23 academic year. It also secured the top spot in the country in the National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking 2023 under agriculture and allied sectors.
The institute celebrated its 62nd convocation week from February 4 to 9, 2024. During an interview with Careers360, Singh spoke about IARI’s admission policies, innovations and new courses. Edited excerpts below.
Q. How has been your experience of teaching agriculture students admitted through CUET-UG?
A. IARI has always been the centre of excellence in postgraduate agricultural education. From Academic session 2022-23, IARI began a new chapter in its history by starting UG programmes in four streams of agriculture. Accordingly, the academic council of IARI rechristened the postgraduate school as The Graduate School of IARI. Two batches of UG students have already been admitted at IARI and its regional academic centres.
The experience of admitting and teaching UG students has been wonderful, overwhelming and satisfying, to say the least.
The quality of students admitted at IARI through CUET-UG has really been extraordinary. It is really heartening to share that the top most students, who qualified in the entrance examination, opted IARI for their under-graduation programme. The faculty of IARI is leaving no stone unturned to mentor these brilliant students so that they can achieve newer heights in their career and serve the farming community and country in the best possible manner.
Admission through CUET-UG is helping us to have much-needed diversity in the classroom. The students admitted so far represent 19 states of the country and nearly 40% of them are female. It would be our endeavor in the coming years to bring the ratio of male-female students to 1:1.
Now, we are preparing to admit a third batch of UG students for the 2024-25 session through the CUET-UG with new vigour and ideas.