Cornell University offers 2 in 2 degree programme to BHU

Varanasi, December 19, 2009: Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, New York, on Saturday has offered two degrees in two years to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students in MTech Biotechnology and Agribusiness Management and MTech in Food Sciences and Agribusiness Management.

The 2 in 2 dual degree program offers one degree from BHU and another from Cornell University.

This offer was made by a delegation of Cornell University led by Professor KV Raman of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology and Akshat Medakker of Satguru Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.The visiting delegates called on Director, Institute of Agricultural Sciences and later they met the BHU Vice Chancellor Professor DP Singh to discuss entire program.

Professor Raman said that they had submitted a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be processed and finalized and then under this MoU 2 in 2 degree program would be implemented.

It was discussed that the entrance examination for this dual degree program would be conducted by BHU at all India basis and initially students will take up three-semester courses in BHU and would later be shifted for six to seven months in the Cornell University in USA, he said.

There would be an arrangement of credit shift facility between the two universities in which students would go for about 45 credit hours in BHU and 30 credit hours in Cornell University and there would be an arrangement of shifting of credit (around 15 credits), he added.

Students who are admitted in these courses will be awarded two degrees one by BHU another by Cornell University within two years, he remarked.

“Such arrangement already exists between Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and Cornell University in the field of Plant Biotechnology,” said Professor Raman.

He said that Cornell University wanted a tie up with BHU in the field of Plant Biotechnology, Food Sciences and Post Harvest Technology.

“Already one batch of 10 students of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University is in Cornell and after completion of this dual degree programme they are being offered packages of 10 to 12 lakh by international firms in the field of Biotechnology and Food Sciences”, he said.

BHU Vice-Chancellor Professor DP Singh enquired about role of Satguru Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. which had a tie up with the Cornell University in distribution and management of funds and other activities.

Vice-Chancellor said he has not objection in Satguru Management Consultant Pvt. Ltd managing Cornell’s activity but he wanted that the tie up will be directly between Cornell and BHU.

BHU Rector, Director, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Chairman, International Cell, Chairman PPP Cell, Professor Saket Kushwaha, Professor HB Singh in addition to Professor KV Raman and Akshat Medakker from Satguru Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd participated in the meeting.

Photo caption: BHU vice-chancelor Professor DP Singh poses for a group photograph with Cornell University delegates on December 19, 2009.

Bottom: BHU vice-chancellor holds meeting with the Cornell University delegates in BHU, Varanasi on December 19, 2009.

Source: PPP Cell, BHU