more-in KOCHI: The roadmap for the proposed 15-year vision plan for the development of Cochin University of Science and Technology as part of applying for the Centre’s ‘institution of eminence’ tag is getting shape. Launching five-year integrated M. Sc courses in science subjects, promoting research and studies in marine sciences, scientific computing and genetics are key major focus areas included in the vision plan. The government has given its nod for the 15-year vision plan and also the five-year implementation plan. “We plan to offer M. Sc integrated programmes in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences and Statistics. The idea is to promote learning and research in basic sciences,” said P. G. Sankaran, Pro-Vice Chancellor. The varsity has plans to strengthen research in marine sciences as a key focus area under the 15-year vision plan. Prof. Sankaran said that research initiatives will be formulated keeping in mind the specialities of the area that include fisheries science, marine biology and industrial fisheries. Scientific computing, climate modelling, environment modelling, bio-informatics and genetics are some of the other focus areas that have found place in the vision plan. The admissions for the new courses would be made on the basis of the performance of the candidates in the nation-wide common admission test (CAT) conducted by the varsity. Even though various initiatives may take at least 15 years to evolve, the varsity will work out a five-year implementation strategy that is an integral part of the objectives to be laid out by an institution applying for the status of institutions of eminence. The authorities are hopeful that they would be able to start the integrated M. Sc programmes and fundamental research in focus areas within five years. The objective of the Centre’s institution of eminence initiative is to provide an enabling regulatory architecture to ten public and ten private higher educational institutions to help them emerge as world-class teaching and research institutions. The five-year implementation strategy has to be presented before an empowered expert committee that will shortlist the institutes of eminence. The 10 public institutes selected will be given an additional grant of Rs 1,000 crore over five years to attain global standards. The institutes of eminence will be free from the usual regulatory mechanism to choose their path to become institutions of global repute with emphasis on multi-disciplinary initiatives, high quality research, global best practices and international collaborations. ends/gk

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