For the first time since 1999, direct admission to M.Tech (biotechnology) is being offered this year by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University at Dwarka, New Delhi. The admissions have already been announced on the university website, offering direct admission into M.Tech biotechnology for candidates who apply online with a valid score in GATE (biotechnology), without a separate entrance test. The earlier dual-degree programme allowed only candidates who passed B.Tech from IPU to be admitted into its M.Tech (biotechnology). They have now been delinked, opening the scope for separate admissions to both, as well as direct entry at the M.Tech. level in biotechnology from the academic year 2016-17. The candidates must hold B.Tech or Masters degree in relevant discipline, qualify GATE (BT) and apply online before the last date, 10 March 2016.
The M.Tech curriculum has been completely revamped to achieve a better balance between bioscience and bioengineering subjects to support the career needs of students seeking academic and industrial tracks, says Prof. Anil Tyagi, Vice Chancellor of the University, adding, “we are expanding our faculty and infrastructure to provide better talent pool for a ‘make in India’ biotechnology”. According to Prof. N. Raghuram, Dean of the University School of Biotechnology, the revised M.Tech offers upto 15 subjects per semester out of which the students have to choose only 6, including one mandatory practical course. “They encompass agricultural, biomedical, pharmaceutical, food, nutraceutical and other sectors, as well as biodiversity, epigenetics, biophysics, bioinformatics, Systems and Synthetic Biology, engineering mathematics, multivariate statistics, biochemical engineering, bioprocess modelling and control, bio-manufacturing principles and practice, Downstream Processing, Bioprocess Plant Design, Bioethics, Bio-safety and Intellectual Property Rights. This also addresses the paucity of engineering skills that are badly needed to enhance the employability of biotechnology students in India”, he says.