Presentation made by Prof. (Dr.) T. A. More, Vice - Chancellor Mahatma Phule Agricultural University at the Biennial Conference 2012

1. Higher Education and National Economic
Development : Lessons from India
Prof. (Dr.) T. A. More
Vice - Chancellor
Mahatma Phule Agricultural University,
Rahuri - 413722, Dist. Ahmednagar, India
Email: tamore@indiatimes.com
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3.  Establishment of the Post-graduate School at the Indian
Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, in 1958 with the
integration of research, teaching & extension education was a
significant landmark in the history of HAE.
 Government of India appointed in Education Commission in
1948, Study Teams in 1955 & 1959 & Agricultural University
Committee in 1960.
 The first SAU was established at Pantnagar in 1960, on the
pattern of the Land Grant Colleges of the USA.
 Later on at least one SAU in each major state during sixties &
seventies.
 SAUs adopted integrated concept of Teaching, Research &
Extension Education.
 Education system itself underwent a major changes such
annual system, trimester system, & finally semester system,
100 % internal evaluation & latter grading system with full
transparency. This has brought a revolutionary change for
bettering higher agricultural education in India.
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4. Massive expansion in supply of colleges:
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5. ICAR-SAU system
DARE - ICAR
Agriculture Minister & General Body, ICAR
President, ICAR Society
Chairman, ASRB Secretary, DARE & Governing Body, ICAR
Director General, ICAR
Addl. Secretary, DARE Addl. Secretary, Deputy National
(Fin.) & Financial Advisor, DARE & Secretary, Director Director
ICAR ICAR Generals (NAIP)
45 Research Institutes Crop Science
4 Deemed Universities Horticulture
6 National Bureaux Natural Resource
Management
17 National Research Centres
Animal Science
25 Directorates/Project Directorates
Fisheries
61 All India Coordinated Research Projects
Engineering
17 Network Projects
Education
62 State Agricultural Universities
(including one deemed university status) Extension Education
01 Central Agricultural University
643 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) 5

6. Agricultural Faculty
Name Quantity
SAUs 60
Deemed Universities 04
NAARM 01
Central Agricultural 01
University
Central Universities 04
(Agril. Faculty)
Total 70
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7. Scheme of examination (ICAR Entrance)
 One paper - Physics, chemistry &
Biology/Mathematics/Agriculture carrying 180
questions.
 Candidates have to attempt (1) Physics, (2)
Chemistry, (3) Biology or Mathematics or Agriculture
papers as per their eligibility & choice of the subject.
Each subject has 60 questions.
Eligibility
 10+2 with 60% in combination shown against
each subject of study (55% for SC/ST).
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8. Course Credit
Sr. Faculties UG Degree Credit
No.
1 Agriculture B. Sc. (Agri.) 163
2 Horticulture B. Sc. (Hort.) 160
3 Agricultural B. Tech (Agril. Engg.) 183
Engineering
4 Home Science B. Sc. (Home Science) 159
5 Food Science & B. Tech (Food Technology.) 180
Technology
6 Agri Business B. B. A (Agri.) 160
Management
7 Fisheries Science B. Sc. (Fisheries) 172
8 Forestry B. Sc. (Forestry) 160
9 Biotechnology B. Sc. (Agril. Biotechnology) 160
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9. New UG Curriculum with emphasis on
Hands on Training/ Experiential learning
First to Sixth semester - covers majority of courses.
Seventh semester – RAWE/RHWE
Eighth semester – Experiential learning programme
 This was mainly with the objective of
providing adequate experiential learning so
that the graduates have confidence and
entrepreneurial skills to start vocation.
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10. M. Sc. Agriculture Specialiazation
Agri Botany; Microbiology;
Agri Biotechnology; Nematology;
Agri Chemistry;
Plant physiology;
Agri Economics,
Ecology
Agri Extension,
Plant pathology,
Agronomy,
Plant protection,
Agri Engineering,
Sugar cane technology,
Agri meteorology,
Agri statistics & Agri zoology, Seed technology,
Agri Entomology, Soil science and
Extension education, Soil conservation,
Forestry, Sericulture,
Social forestry; Tea husbandry,
Farming system management, Water conservation,
Horticulture Mycology.
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11. Master’s Degree (M. Sc. Agri.)
Minimum credit requirements:
Courses Minimum Credits
a) Major subjects 20
b) Minor subjects 09
c) Supporting subjects 05
d) Seminar 01
Total course credits 35
e] Thesis (Research Work) 20
Total credit for degree 55
f) Non-Credit Compulsory Courses 06
Doctoral degree (Ph.D.)
Courses Minimum Credits
a) Major subjects 15
b) Minor subjects 08
c) Supporting subjects 05
d) Seminar 02
Total course credits 30
e] Thesis (Research Work) 45
Total credit for degree 75
f) Non-Credit Compulsory Courses 06
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12. Minimum Residential Requirement
 Master degree programme – 04 semesters
 Doctorate degree programme – 06 semesters
 The maximum time limit for completion (from the
date of admission)
M. Sc. – 4 years (i.e. 8 semesters)
Ph. D. – 6 years (i.e. 12 semesters)
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13. US-INDIA: Collaboration in Agricultural Education
 US Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension
Service (CSREES) has awarded 4 grants totalling about $
400,000 to US universities for advancing the US-India
Agricultural Knowledge Initiative.
 Awarded thro, International Science & Education
competitive grants programme, the initiative involves
universities & private sector & will focus on strengthening
human & institutional capacity, promoting sustainable use of
water resources, effectively applying biotechnological
approaches, & ensuring strong markets & processing chains.
 Through federal funding & leadership for research, education
& extension programmes, CSREES focuses on investing in
science & solving critical issues impacting people's daily
lives & the nation's future.
 The knowledge initiative was launched in 2005 by US
President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Singh. This year's
grants have gone to Tuskegee University, University of
Delaware, North Carolina State University & Florida
International University.
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14.  Tuskegee University will use the grant to improve
environmental & international curricula & capacities at
the Department of Agricultural & Environmental
Sciences at Tuskegee University & to collaborate with
the Department of Poultry Science at India's Sri
Venkateswara Veterinary University to conduct
collaborative research in environmental waste
management.
 University of Delaware will partner with the
International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-
Arid Tropics, located in Patancheru, India, to enhance
its knowledge of sustainable agriculture & watershed
management practices that developing countries are
implementing.
 North Carolina State University will collaborate with
several Indian universities & organisations, and will use
a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate issues faced
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15.  Partners in this project include Punjab Agricultural
University, Karnataka Animal & Fisheries Sciences
University, Lifeline Feeds, Inc., Sri Venkateswara
Veterinary University, Public Health Foundation of
India, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, GB
Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, &
Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University.
 Florida International University will train faculty &
students in international aspects of biofuel production,
technology & trade, & expand the university's
capabilities to educate students, farmers & US energy
industry groups.
Students & faculty will conduct short-term
research projects & internships on bioenergy topics in
India, Brazil & other countries of Latin America & the
Caribbean.
Primary partners in India include the
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16. MOUs between MPAU, Rahuri & International
organization/universities regarding education
1) Agreement of Cooperation between the University of Turin,
Italy (AGROINNOVA, Centre of Competence for the Innovation
in the agro environmental sector) and Mahatma Phule
Agricultural University, Rahuri for promoting & maintaining
scientific relations & teaching methodologies between 2
institutions.
2) MOU between Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri
(India) & University of Maryland, College of Agriculture &
Natural Resources (AGNR) (USA)
3) MOU between College of Agriculture, Baramati,
Dist. Pune, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University,
Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar, and Van Hall Larenstein
(University of Applied Sciences), Netherlands, & of
Wageningen University & Research centre for
educational cooperation. 16

17. EXTENSION EDUCATION
Technology transfer must be preceded & succeeded by
technology assessment & refinement, & hence are
complementary to each other.
There is a need to develop a scientist-farmer linkage that would
be helpful in generation of effective technologies, but would
foster the cause of technology transfer as well as catalytic basis.
Extension needs to be sensitive to the changes in terms of rapid
communication & all efforts are to be made to generate self-
employment opportunities for farmers, farm women & farm
youth.
Extension service needs to equip itself to cope with the changed
scenario though different dimensions.
Strengthening the extension to allied agricultural sectors like:
Technology parks. Farm literatures & reading media.
Communication technologies & information centres.
Developing alternative extension models. Institution-village linkage
programmes. Formation of action plan & calendar of programmes. 17

18. National Assessment &
Accreditation Council (NAAC)
Lays special emphasis on
evaluating the quality of higher
education to assess & accredit
institutions of higher learning,
universities & colleges or 1 or more of
their units, i.e., departments, schools,
institutions, programmes, etc. 18

19. University Grants Commission
It is a statutory organization established by an
Act of Parliament in 1956 for the coordination,
determination & maintenance of standards of
university education.
The Commission also advises the Central & State
Govts. on the measures which are necessary for the
development of HE.
It functions from New Delhi as well as its 6
Regional offices located in Bangalore, Bhopal,
Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata & Pune.
The UGC establishes autonomous Inter-
University Centres within the university system. 19

20. THANK
YOU
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