Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has decided to incorporate identification mechanisms in its degree certificates.
The proposal to include photographs and unique ID/Aadhaar number on the certificates was approved by the Academic Council at its 130th meeting held at the university headquarters on Wednesday.
The meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor P.Rajendran, approved the prospectus for 17-18 admissions to various courses conducted by the university.
According to the revised prospectus, 208 seats will be available for BSc (Hons) Agriculture, 31 seats for BSc (Hons) Forestry, 40 seats for BSc (Hons) Cooperation & Banking, 50 seats for BTech (Agricultural Engineering), and 30 seats for BTech (Food Engineering).
In the case of postgraduate courses, 191 seats will be available for various disciplines under Agriculture, 15 under Faculty of Forestry, 10 for Cooperation & Banking, 15 for Agricultural Engineering, and 40 for MBA in agribusiness management.
For the Integrated MSc courses in Biotechnology and Climate Change Adaptation, 20 seats each will be available.
The Academic Council expressed concern at the other universities starting courses pertaining to agriculture and allied subjects. This unhealthy practice is against UGC norms and agricultural courses without ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) accreditation will not be valid, members pointed out.
The council decided to take up the issue of accreditation of the Integrated MSc course in Climate Change Adaptation with the government and the ICAR. The syllabus of the course will be revised in consultation with experts from stakeholder organisations.
