Highs n lows of Biotechnology in PAU

I wanted to study Biotechnology and that too in my home town. Therefore, PAU was my preferable choice. Also, it offers BTech degree over Bsc degree which I found was an edge. Besides, one has to go through the common entrance test (CET) to get admission which is quite simpler than those national level exam. Also, CET provides the only gateway by which one can avail any program whether life sciences, Agriculture or dietics in PAU based upon ranking(exceptions are fashion designing and Agricultural engineering). Though being the public university, its fees is reasonable but the programs like Biotechnology and food technology comes under self funding whose fees is exceptionally high. Here, labs are well-furnished and provides the good practical experience in terms of equipments only in the last year. Otherwise, in the earlier years, the staff gives only demonstration. Among the Agricultural universities mentioned at the site of ICAR, it ranked third in India in 2019.

Those who carry interest in biological research, Biotechnology is the best course to pursue since it comprises broad spectrum subjects in its curriculum. Thus, one has many options to change their path for the post graduation studies. Also, PAU provides a BTech degree which is an edge. Here, faculty student ratio is 1:25 and the faculty is well educated researchers with high competency in their field. Professors teaches students in the form of ppt, videos, handwritten notes and sometimes, combining the lectures with the practical experience in the lab or field. Here, exams are conducted per semester in the three slots comprising first hourly, mid terms and final exams. First two slots comprises internal assessment in the form of short 1 hour exams whereas finals come from different Agricultural University whose duration is around 3 hours. It's easy to score marks in the internal exams as the finals can be unpredictable.

There occurs no campus placement. Students completing their Biotech degree usually opt for masters in PAU itself or give national level exams like ICAR, CSIR, JNU-CEEB to get admission in Msc or direct Phd as these national level exams provides stipend to the students. Besides, many applies for abroad studies and thus prepare for GRE, TOEFL, IELTS. Remaining ones change their stream and went for UPSC, banking or MBA in Biotechnology. My plans are to get further education in biological sciences from abroad on the basis of scholarship as I am done with GRE and TOEFL. Further, I might seek for some industrial job opportunities in the Biotechnology sector.

In the self funded courses like Biotechnology and food technology, fees boom to the sky. They have a policy of raising fees by 10 percent every year. During my admission in 2016, I payed around 88 thousand for 1st semester and in the upcoming semesters, it was around 66 thousand. In 2019, students who admitted in Biotechnology payed 1,30,000 for the first semester. The fee structure is the worst part of this program in PAU which is increasing at rocketed level every year. To make the things worse, students of Biotechnology are eligible for only 1 scholarship (unlike Agriculture students who have around 7-8 scholarships) i.e Gurdev Khush Foundation scholarship which is only meant for 2 rural students per year and generating only 14000 out of it. But, on the other hand, students belonging the the SC/ST, they have some fees concession and also for those, whose income is below 2 lakh. My batch, being the first BTech batch after Bsc degree, didn't get any placement.

There used to be youth fest once in a year in the month of October where all the colleges compete among themselves. The winning teams are then send at the national levels to compete. Also, there occurs a sports week in the month of March each year where the students are awarded with the cash prizes along with their national competitions. Besides, from both activities, all rounder students are also eligible for certain scholarships and they also get a 1 or 2 mark raise per subject in that semester. The mohindar randhawa library is a huge building with 4 floors and comprising books of every genre, though the editions are seldomly new. Beside, classrooms are well spacious with a facility of projector and are generally situated near the greenery. In PAU, there occurs Young Writers association, NSS group, Ambassador group. These are meant for social activities in the university ranging from conducting stage events to the road shows.