Curricula Development and Revision

The curriculum of all the degree programs of the university is developed considering the emerging trend, market needs, training needs, employment opportunities etc. Periodical revision of the curriculum is done in an interval of four years. At the stage of development and revision, experts in the respective fields are involved and their valuable comments are incorporated accordingly. In the Board of Studies and Academic Council meetings, external experts are invited to offer comments on the agenda. Recommendations of teaching seminar are also taken care and the suggestions of faculties are incorporated.

Process at department level

At department level, teachers offering courses in the discipline from all constituent colleges jointly discuss on the issues related to their curriculum and modify the syllabi. The modified / developed curriculum will be forwarded to the Board of Studies of the faculty through the department. The curriculum / syllabi are discussed in both faculty levels teaching seminar and Board of Studies. The Chairman, Board of studies also form a syllabus revision committee with a conveyor for each subject comprising the Head of the Department and senior faculties and junior faculties and they meet twice or thrice, debate and finalize syllabus revision. The revised syllabi are presented before the Deans Committee and later to the top level management consisting of Deans and Directors and the Vice-Chancellor as its chairman and subsequently placed before the Board of Studies for detailed discussion and finalized. The syllabus approved by Board of Studies are placed in the Academic Council and approved for implementation. During revision ICAR norms and guidelines are taken into account.

Process at Board of Studies

The Board of Studies is the body to develop the curriculum and revise the syllabi at appropriate time. All Faculty Deans, Heads of the Departments Senior Professors, elected members representing Associate Professors and Assistant Professors of the faculty and experts from other institutes will constitute the Board of Studies. The process at Board of Studies terminates with the recommendations on the subject for the approval by Academic Council.

Process at Academic Council

The Academic Council is the governing body to take decisions on the academic matters of the university based on the recommendations of Board of Studies. The Council examine the proposals from Board of Studies and also issues raised by the members carefully and take useful decisions for the growth of the University.

Curricula revision

The approved curricula of the degree programs are periodically revised once in four years. The revision of curricula is done considering the feedback from the students and alumni, agro-industries, government departments, developmental organizations, etc. The latest trends in the fields of agriculture are included in the new curricula by replacing the older ones.

Committee Recommendations

Various committees and bodies recommend changes and revisions to be made in the curriculum. Such recommendations are carefully assessed and implemented appropriately.

Feedback

The requirements for improving the course content of each subject are obtained from the students during the final viva-voce examination. Concerned teachers discuss the course demand of students in the monthly meeting with all the members of department. The same is proposed for Board of Studies involving all the faculties of various campuses and colleges for consideration. The same is subsequently sent for approval to Academic Council.

Considering the suggestions of World Bank and alumni, a separate body has been constituted under Agricultural Human Resources Development Project named as Broad Based Advisory Group comprising alumni of TNAU serving in Public and Private sectors. The suggestions were considered for revising the syllabi.

To expose the undergraduate students in real world situation and to gain self- confidence for self employment, the curriculum has been redesigned with a bunch of courses involving hands on training.

·         Commercial Agriculture

·         Industrial tie-up program

·         Project work

·         Rural Agricultural Work Experience

·         Crop Production Courses

·         Short Study Tour

·         All India Study Tour

·         NCC or NSS

There is a remarkable change in the learning behavior of students in Rural Agricultural Work Experience Program due to their exposure to the field problems at the early stage of their degree program (second year). The students understand the field problems and crop and animal production in a comprehensive manner. This helps them to interact with the teachers very effectively when the related subjects are taught.

The students are evaluated periodically by the facilitators and the institution heads effectively. The students send their daily activities as weekly report. The students prepare individual projects on the problems of the study area. A mid-term appraisal is also conducted. Finally, the students exhibit their learning process by way of charts, models, specimens, reports, etc. and also present their learning experience in the rural environment during the workshop. The students are assessed based on various aspects like charts, models, working models, specimens, reports, photographs, presentation, interaction ability, involvement in team work and the remarks of the facilitators. The students participation is encouraged by way of giving prizes based on the above aspects.

The following are the areas identified for to students exposure for orientation towards self-employment.

·         Nursery Technology 

·         Commercial production of spawn and mushroom

·         Production of bio-control agents

·         Bio-fertilizer production

·         Broiler production

·         Seed Production

·         New food product development

·         Sericulture

·         Apiculture

·         Low cost building components and prefabricated structures

·         Production of paper boards from agricultural waste materials