KOCHI: Innovative programmes in academic and administrative levels will be initiated by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) to improve the quality of academic and research activities at the university.
Vice-Chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup said an academic and research auditing will be conducted at frequent intervals at the various Schools of the university.
He was speaking at a meeting of the directors, department heads, academic consultants, senior faculties and other officers convened by him to review the existing system and prepare an action plan to introduce innovative projects.
The ‘Lab to Land’ programme will be introduced for improving the skill and employability of students. As part of this, Rural Fisheries Work Experience programme and several other experiential industrial programmes will be started.
In addition to this, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studieswill expand its placement network in collaboration with various companies functioning in fisheries and allied areas in order to provide employment opportunities to the students of the university.
As part of this, an Industrial Advisory Board will be established by including the CEOs of all companies in Kerala. Students of the university will be given opportunities to carry out their experiential learning activities and other project works in these companies.
In order to avoid lagging of courses and examinations at the university, a stringent academic timetable will be formulated, making necessary changes in schedule for admission, examination and publication of results.
In order to clear the backlog of courses and examinations, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies will conduct an academic and examinations adalat for students on the campus on January 5.
Individual issues such as delay in publication of results, issue of mark list or degree, conduct of special supplementary examinations in addition to academic issues such as admission and eligibility will be sorted out in the Adalat.
KUFOS will also begin massive online open courses in a bid to develop adequate human resources in fisheries and ocean studies sectors.
The Vice Chancellor asked the faculty members to come up with proposals for introducing different modes of online courses.
A committee was constituted in this regard to study various aspects of the concept and identify the courses for online teaching.
The Vice-Chancellor also said that twenty-four faculty positions would be filled in January 2015 to reduce
the shortage of teaching faculties in the university and a state-of-the-art laboratories would be set up in various schools.