Best practice

Best practice I

Title of the practice: Introduction of the one-year PG program

Objective of the practice:

To enhance academic flexibility and accessibility for higher education in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) introduced by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The context:
The objectives of NEP 2020 are to enhance flexibility, accessibility, and multidisciplinary learning in higher education. NUCSER has implemented NEP 2020 recommendations for the UG programme since 2021. UGC released its curriculum and credit framework for PG Programmes as per the recommendation of NEP 2020 in June 2024. The policy recommends a restructured academic framework that allows students who have completed a four-year undergraduate program with research to pursue a one-year postgraduate program. At the institute, the first batch of the 4-year UG program completed their 4th year in 2025. Introduction of a one-year PG program at NUCSER would enable students to progress more efficiently in their academic and research careers while reducing the overall duration required to obtain advanced qualifications.

The practice:
At NUCSER, a one-year PG program was introduced starting in August 2025. The curriculum was designed in line with the NEP recommendations and UGC guidelines for a total of 40 credits, with the credit distribution between coursework and research. The student taking admission to the one-year MSc program has five specialization options (Biomedical Science, Food Science & Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, and Cancer Biology) to choose based on their interest. This initiative aligned the institute with national higher education reforms, facilitating students with a streamlined academic progression from undergraduate to postgraduate studies.

Evidence of success:
The implementation of the four-year UG program since 2021 has enabled the first batch of students completing the four-year UG program with a research component in 2025 to become eligible for the one-year PG program. A good admission rate of 96% indicated the successful implementation of the program. The initiative was helpful for those students interested in advanced specialization and research, facilitating skill development.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required
Designing a comprehensive one-year PG curriculum that meets the guidelines issued by the UGC required significant academic planning and restructuring of existing course frameworks. As the first batch of the four-year UG program completed their final year in 2025, the institute had to manage the transition from the conventional PG structure to the new NEP-based postgraduate framework. Faculty members required orientation to adapt to the revised credit requirements associated with the new program. To increase the visibility of the program, it is necessary to publicize it outside Karnataka and also through videos focused on research on social media platforms.

Best practice II

Title of the practice: Creating an ecosystem to foster startups among faculty and students in the field of biotechnology.

Objective of the practice:
To develop an innovation-driven ecosystem within the institution that encourages faculty and students to ideate, incubate, and launch startups by providing infrastructure, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurial training, thereby promoting research commercialization and self-employment.

The context:
The vision of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions is achievable through initiatives that nurture entrepreneurial mindsets among faculty and students. As many institutions face challenges such as limited access to incubation facilities, inadequate industry linkages, or a lack of structured mentorship, creating a structured startup ecosystem within the institution, comprising incubation support and industry collaborations, is essential to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization. This ecosystem will empower faculty and students to transform ideas into sustainable ventures and support the broader goal of building an entrepreneurial culture in the academic environment.

The practice:
NITTE-GOK Centre of Excellence in Aquamarine Innovation, established under Government of Karnataka's Biotechnology Policy by Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, at NUCSER, aims to accelerate the country's entrepreneurial vision by encouraging and assisting innovative entrepreneurs through valuable mentorship and access to investor networks and by facilitating a host of other services. The centre was established in 2025 with major objectives of fostering innovation, providing technical and financial support to entrepreneurs and startups, facilitating knowledge sharing and technology transfer in marine sciences, building capacity through training programs and workshops for students and professionals, and establishing partnerships with industry stakeholders for the commercialization of technologies. The centre facilitates innovations in the domains of biotechnology in sustainable aquaculture, bioremediation and wastewater management, marine bioprospecting for nutraceuticals, high-throughput screening for marine bioactive compounds, and monitoring of harmful algal blooms and marine toxins.

Evidence of success:
The centre has established MoUs with both industry and academic institutions to foster innovative startups among students and faculty. Notable collaborations include the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackish Water Aquaculture, Chennai; ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin; the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, Penang, Malaysia; and Canres Aquaculture LLP, Kumta, all aimed at strengthening collaborative efforts for future growth.

Under its incubation program, several innovative startups such as Aqua Ventures Pvt. Ltd., Metaspot Pvt. Ltd., TissuGenix Innovation Pvt. Ltd., TAD Frost Pvt. Ltd., and Naturemark Zoetech Pvt. Ltd. have successfully emerged, transforming novel ideas into thriving ventures in the field of marine biotechnology.

Problems encountered and resources required:
The major problems encountered are challenges in technology commercialization, including gaps between research outcomes and market-ready products, regulatory constraints related to marine resource utilization, environmental clearances, and product approvals, and also awareness gaps among students and early-stage researchers regarding entrepreneurship and startup opportunities. Sustained financial support through industry funding and venture capital for incubation and research activities can sustain the incubation centre.