The tie-up is aimed at creating the best in class agri science graduates by giving
them exposure to the most modern international formats of agriculture and horticulture.
Students, who aspire for higher studies in agricultural sciences,
now have the option of pursuing the first-of-its-kind international agricultural
degree programme that involves part study in India and the remaining part in the
Netherlands.
The Agriculture Development Trusts (ADT) College of Agriculture in Baramati announced
here on Thursday, 22nd Sept. a tie-up with one of the Netherlands premier agricultural
universities, the Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences (VHL) for
offering international programs in agriculture education. The VHL is a part of the
Wageningen University, which has a strong presence in agricultural research and
studies.
Sunanda Pawar, trustee of ADT, announced the tie-up in the presence of Wageningen
University program director Oosterh of and the Netherlands embassy in India’s education
promotion officer Amita Patel. The tie-up is aimed at creating the best in class
agri science graduates by giving them exposure to the most modern international
formats of agriculture and horticulture, said Pawar.
The partnership provides for a four-year bachelors degree program in a 2+2 format
i.e., first two years study at College of Agriculture (CoA), Baramati and the remaining
two years in the Netherlands, or a 3+1 format involving the last years study in
the Netherlands.
The eligibility criteria for both these formats is higher secondary certificate
(HSC, Std XII) passed with science subjects and the selection is based on the entrance
test followed by an interview. To begin with the two programs will focus on specialisations
like international horticulture and marketing and agri-business and trade.
The 2+2 program is an autonomous course that will lead to VHLs internationally recognised
bachelors degree while the 3+1 program will lead to a B.Sc degree from the Mahatma
Phule Agriculture University (to which the CoA, Baramati is affiliated) along with
a certificate of acknowledgement by the VHL, said Nilesh Nalawade, principal of
CoA, Baramati.
He said the student intake for each program is 30 seats while the Dutch leg of studies
will cost around Rs. 3 lakh per annum. The Wageningan University has offered 35
per cent on tuition fees, said Nalawade.
According to the Netherlands embassys Amita Patel, There is a lot of interest among
the Dutch universities to co-operate with their Indian counterparts in various sectors.
Agriculture, in particular, is an area where the Netherlands have a dominant presence
and wide expertise.
Courtesy: Times of India
