KOCHI: In order to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives among students, the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) will establish business incubation centre and startup village, in collaboration with industrial bodies.
The decision was taken by the University Academic Council, chaired by vice-chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup. Initially, the proposed centre will focus on development of value-added products, aquiculture projects and consultancy services. The centre will serve as a single window for disseminating relevant information, and for providing technological support and training to stakeholders.
The existing facilities at the University and its regional centres will be upgraded to serve in establishing startup villages for the effective implementation of viable projects incubated at the incubation centres.
The estimated net budget for developing the infrastructure and allied facilities for the proposed incubation centre will be around Rs.3 crore. Soon after finding suitable industrial bodies for funding and revenue sharing, MoUs will be signed.Besides, the Academic Council has decided to start Massive Online Open Courses in all departments to increase the enrolment ratio in fisheries and ocean studies education. Software developed by the Ministry of Human Resources will be used for developing the online teaching facility. In addition, the Kufos will start ten new courses from the next academic year - MSc Applied Marine Chemistry; MBA in Energy Management; B-Tech in Marine Safety Engineering, 6 M-Tech courses in Fisheries Engineering, Underwater Acoustics, Petroleum Engineering, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Ocean Coastal Safety and Coastal Harbour Engineering; and P G Diploma in Maritime Law. The ongoing full-time L L M course will be converted into evening course.
The Council also approved various academic regulations in the courses being offered by the University. As part of this, the academic curricula of various courses have been amended.
The Council approved the minutes of the ‘boards of studies’ of various MSc, MBA, M-Tech, L L M and MFSc programmes. The ninth Academic Council also approved the Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS) for the promotion of teachers.