Proceedings of the XI meeting of the Accreditation Board

The XI Meeting of the Accreditation Board was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. S. Ayyappan, DG, ICAR and Chairman, Accreditation Board on July 13, 2010 at 0930 hrs in the Board Room, International Guest House, NASC Complex, New Delhi. The list of participants in annexed.

Dr. Arvind Kumar, DDG (Education), ICAR and Vice Chairman, Accreditation Board welcomed the Board Members and highlighted the importance of accreditation in enhancing the quality and relevance of higher agricultural education. He then requested the Chairman to convene the meeting.

Dr. Ayyappan, expressing gratitude to all members, briefly mentioned about the changing circumstances in higher education. These included proposed establishment of a National Commission for Higher Education & Research by the Government of India, recommendation of the National Knowledge Commission for opening of 1500 small subject oriented universities, setting up of new Central Agricultural Universities, increasing privatization and affiliation of colleges to State Agricultural Universities, need for quality assurance and performance indicators for faculty and the universities, expedited accreditation, periodic revision of course curricula and syllabi, and the uniform course nomenclature in the agricultural universities (AUs). He suggested that the members of the Accreditation Board may visit different agricultural universities as ICAR representative and suggest improvement in teaching-learning process. He thereafter, invited suggestions from all the members.

Dr. J.H. Kulkarni mentioned that the move of the Andhra Pradesh Government to unify the universities is very good. Dr. S.S. Magar mentioned that ICAR should have some powers so that its recommendations are taken as binding by the SAUs. Dr. V.K. Patil mentioned that there is need for unprecedented boost to higher agricultural education. Dr. Dilip Kumar stated that many AUs have 50-60% intake capacity utilized and the integrated farming will be brought in through bringing in composite culture in universities. Dr. Usha B. Zehr stated that there is greater need for generating more demand for agricultural graduates. Dr. S.D. Sharma informed that the number of students appeared in the Common Entrance Test conducted for filling up the UG and PG seats in AUs has increased considerably this year. Dr. C. Devakumar expressed the need of statutory powers to ICAR, funds distribution to AUs commensurate with their students intake and enrichment of course content meeting the requirements of job market.

Dr. Ayyappan informed that the ICAR is contemplating to develop a National Agricultural Education Project and prior to that it will organize a National Consultation on Higher Agricultural Education in November/December, 2010. After that Dr. R.K. Mittal, Secretary, Accreditation Board presented the agenda.

Item No. 1: Confirmation of the Proceedings of the X Meeting of the Accreditation Board held on June 16, 2009

Since no comments were received from any member, the Proceedings of the X Meeting of the Accreditation Board held on June 16, 2009 were confirmed.

Item No. 2: Action Taken Report on the Recommendations of the X Meeting of the Accreditation Board held on June 16, 2009

The Board expressed satisfaction on the action taken on all items.

Item No. 3: Grant of Accreditation to the State Agricultural Universities

The Board approved accreditation of the following four State Agricultural Universities/Deemed University, their colleges and programmes as follows:

3.1. Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

The accreditation was granted to the university, its following constituent colleges and programmes, for a period of five years with the condition that the university will take necessary action on the suggestions for improvement as mentioned in the PRT Report, particularly under section 3.2, within a reasonable time frame i.e. preferably in two years period. The University shall submit yearly report to indicate steps taken and progress made on each of them.

Ranchi Agricultural College, Ranchi

B.Sc. (Hons.) Agri.
M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agril. Economics, Agril. Entomology, Agril. Extension Education, Agril. Physics, Agril. Statistics, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science & Agril. Chemistry, Agril. Engineering.
Ph. D (Agri.) in Agril. Economics, Agronomy, Agril. Extension Education, Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science & Agril. Chemistry.

College of Forestry, Ranchi

B.Sc. (Hons.) Forestry
M.Sc. (Forestry) in Silviculture & Agro-Forestry, Extension & Social Forestry, Forest Management.

The Board observed that the teaching faculty at the College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Ranchi and the College of Biotechnology, Ranchi are grossly inadequate for imparting quality education. This has affected the functioning of these colleges also. The Board therefore, did not grant Accreditation of these colleges, their departments and programmes except the following programmes at the College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Ranchi, at this stage.

M.V.Sc. in Animal Breeding & Genetics, Livestock Production & Management.
Ph.D. in Animal Breeding & Genetics.

3.2. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

College of Agriculture, Jorhat

B.Sc. (Agri.)
M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agril. Biotechnology, Agril. Economics & Farm Management, Agril. Statistics, Agril. Chemistry & Biochemistry, Agronomy, Crop Physiology, Entomology, Extension Education, Horticulture, Nematology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Tea Husbandry & Technology.
MBA.
M.Sc. (Sericulture)
Ph.D (Agri.) in Agril. Economics & Farm Management, Agronomy, Entomology, Extension Education, Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Nematology, Biochemistry & Agril. Chemistry.

Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali

B.Sc. (Agri.)

College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara

B.V. Sc. & A.H.
M.V.Sc. in Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Livestock Production and Management, Livestock Products Technology, Veterinary Extension Education, Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Veterinary Gynaecology, Obstetrics & A.I., Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence, Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Biochemistry, Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, Poultry Science.
Ph.D (Vety. Science) in Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Livestock Production and Management, Livestock Products Technology, Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Veterinary Gynaecology, Obstetrics & A.I., Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence, Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, Poultry Science.

College of Home Science, Jorhat

B.Sc. (H.Sc.)
M.Sc. (H.Sc.) in Child Development & Family Relations, Clothing & Textiles, Food & Nutrition, Family Resource Management and Extension Education.
Ph.D (H.Sc.) in Food & Nutrition

The Board felt that the infrastructure and facilities are not adequately developed at the College of Fisheries, Raha and therefore, approved accreditation of this College and its B.F.Sc. programme for three years (upto 12.07.2013) only, during which period the College should develop the required manpower and facilities.

3.3. Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Allahabad

The accreditation was granted to the university, its following constituent schools and programmes, for a period of five years with the condition that the university will take necessary action on the suggestions for improvement as mentioned in the PRT Report, particularly under section 3.2, within a reasonable time frame i.e. preferably in two years period. The University shall submit yearly report to indicate steps taken and progress made on each of them.

Allahabad School of Agriculture, Allahabad

B.Sc. Agriculture.
M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agronomy, Crop Physiology, Genetics & Plant Breeding, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Plant Protection, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Seed Science & Technology.
M.B.A. (Agribusiness).
Ph.D. in Agronomy, Crop Physiology, Genetics & Plant Breeding, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Plant Protection, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Seed Science & Technology, Agricultural Biochemistry.

School of Forestry & Environment, Allahabad

B.Sc. Forestry
M.Sc. in Soil Science, Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Agro-forestry, Forestry, Environmental Science.
Ph.D. in Agro-Forestry, Forestry, Soil Science.

Halina School of Home Science

B.Sc. (Hons) Home Science
M.Sc. in Food Nutrition & Dietetics, Clothing & Textiles, Family Resource Management, Human Development, Home Science Extension Education.
Ph.D. in Food Nutrition & Dietetics.

Vaugh School of Agricultural Engineering

B.Tech. Agricultural Engineering.
B.Tech. Food Tech. (Process & Food Engineering)
B.Tech. Water Resource Engineering
M.Tech. Agricultural Engineering in Agri Process & Food Engg., Farm Machinery & Power Engg., Irrigation & Drainage Engg., Soil & Water Conservation Engg., Agricultural Water Management, Energy Management.
M.Tech. Food Technology in Food Process Engineering, Food Engineering, Food Quality Management, Food Chain Management, Food Safety & Standards.
Ph.D. in Soil Water Engineering, Farm Machinery & Power Engineering.

Faculty and infrastructure in the Warner School of Dairy Technology, needed substantial strengthening as per norms and standards specified by the ICAR. The Board therefore, approved accreditation to the School with following programmes for two years. During this period, the University need to recruit more faculty and modernize the infrastructure.

B.Tech. Dairy Technology
M.Sc. Dairy Technology
M.Tech. Dairy Technology
Ph.D. in Dairy technology, Dairy Microbiology.

Sunderasan School of Veterinary Science at present does not meet the norms and standards as per either VCI or ICAR. Therefore, the Board has not approved its accreditation. The University may submit proposal for School’s accreditation after it meets the VCI/ICAR requirements for recognition. Similarly, the Board has not granted accreditation to the Jacob School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering as the programme is not included in undergraduate programmes in agricultural education by ICAR at present.

3.4. Anand Agricultural University, Anand

The Board appreciated the progress made by the University and granted accreditation to the university, its following constituent colleges and programmes, for a period of five years with the condition that the university will take necessary action on the suggestions for improvement as mentioned in the PRT Report, particularly under section 3.2, within a reasonable time frame i.e. preferably in two years period. The University shall submit yearly report to indicate steps taken and progress made on each of them.

B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand

B.Sc. (Agri.)
M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agril. Biotechnology, Agril. Chemistry & Soil Science, Agril. Economics, Agril. Entomology, Agril. Meteorology, Agril. Microbiology, Agril. Statistics, Agronomy, Biochemistry, Agril. Extension, Horticulture, Nematology, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Crop Physiology.
M.Sc. in Agril. Chemistry & Soil Science, Agril. Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology.
Ph.D in Agril. Chemistry & Soil Science, Agril. Economics, Agril. Entomology, Agril. Meteorology, Agril. Statistics, Agronomy, Biochemistry, Agril. Extension, Horticulture, Nematology, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Crop Physiology.

College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Anand

B.V. Sc. & A.H.
M.V.Sc. in Anatomy, Animal Bio-technology, Parasitology, Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Livestock Production Management, Animal Genetics & Breeding, Veterinary Surgery, Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Pharmacology, Veterinary Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Nutrition, Reproductive Biology, Veterinary Public Health, Poultry Science, Veterinary Extension.
Ph.D. in Anatomy, Parasitology, Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Livestock Production Management, Animal Genetics & Breeding, Veterinary Surgery, Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Pharmacology, Veterinary Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Nutrition, Reproductive Biology, Veterinary Public Health, Poultry Science.

Sheth M.C. College of Dairy Science, Anand

B.Tech. (Dairy Technology)
M.Tech. in Dairy Technology, Dairy Engineering, Dairy Chemistry, Dairy Microbiology, Food Bio-technology.
M.Sc. in Dairy Chemistry, Dairy Microbiology.
Ph.D. in Dairy Technology, Dairy Engineering, Dairy Chemistry, Dairy Microbiology.

Item No. 4: Extension of Accreditation to the State Agricultural Universities

The Board was apprised that the period of accreditation of the following four SAUs, their colleges and programmes, has expired. The progress made by the universities on the suggestions of the Accreditation Board, that were made at the time of grant of accreditation, was reviewed. The Board granted extension for two years to them, as follows-

Dr. YSPUH&F, Solan upto 12.07.2012
Dr BSKKV, Dapoli upto 12.07.2012
KAU, Thrissur upto 12.07.2012
PAU, Ludhiana upto 12.07.2012

The Board also directed that after the present extension, the universities should apply for fresh accreditation. While approving the extension, the Board suggested that all the four universities should complete action on all the suggestions made earlier, and continue to submit the Action Taken Report to the Council on annual basis.

Item No. 5: Proceeding of the V meeting of the Sectoral Committee on Accreditation Norms and New Institutions & Programmes held on April 12, 2010 at New Delhi including Revised Parameters for Accreditation of Agricultural Universities.

The Chairman appreciated the efforts of the Sectoral Committee in working out the compressive new accreditation process based on quantifiable parameters. The Board approved the new process for accreditation which applies to the universities. It was however, desired that before its implementation, the Committee may develop similar parameters for accreditation of a college and programme also within next few months.

The Accreditation Board also made following recommendations-

All eligible universities should submit their Self Study Reports for Accreditation within next six months.
ICAR should develop a proforma for extension of accreditation of agricultural universities.
Application for extension of accreditation should be submitted six months in advance to the expiry of accreditation period.
ICAR should charge a fee of Rs. 50,000 for fresh accreditation and Rs. 25,000 for extension of accreditation from the university. However, this may first be discussed in the next Vice Chancellors’ Conference.
A monetary incentive may be considered to the accredited universities.
The next meeting of the Board may be held within this year i.e. by December, 2010.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair.

Annexure I
List of Participants

1.	Dr. S. Ayyappan DG, ICAR, New Delhi	Chairman
2.	Dr. Arvind Kumar DDG (Edn.), ICAR, New Delhi	Vice Chairman
3.	Dr. S.N. Puri VC, CAU, Imphal	Member
4.	Dr. S.S. Magar Ex-VC, DBSKKV, Dapoli	Member
5.	Dr. J.H. Kulkarni Ex-VC, UAS, Dharwad	Member
6.	Dr. Dilip Kumar Director, CIFE, Mumbai	Member
7.	Dr. V. K. Patil, Ex-VC, Shivai -139, N-3, CIDCO, Aurangabad -431005	Member
8.	Dr. Usha Barwale Zehr, Jt. Director, Research, MAHYCO, Dawalwadi, MS	Member
9.	Dr. C. Devakumar ADG (EPD), ICAR, New Delhi	Special Invitee
10.	Dr. S.D. Sharma Controller of Exams (Edn.), ICAR, New Delhi	Special Invitee
11.	Dr. Vinod Kumar Principal Scientist (EQR), ICAR, New Delhi
12.	Dr. R.K. Mittal ADG (EQR), ICAR, New Delhi	Secretary