The Hindu

MANGALORE, Feb 16: With the Bidar-based Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pennsylvania-based Brethren Colleges Abroad, the College of Fisheries has gone global.

The five-year agreement allows American students to apply for courses being offered by the college, including certification of diving experience and competence, introductory-level courses in marine biology, oceanography and geology or “similar other courses.”

It accommodates 16 students to begin with.

Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA) is affiliated to the Church of the Brethren. It is among several autonomous organisations that promote academic excellence through “college study abroad programmes” for U.S. students.

The BCA provides fully accredited study-abroad opportunities for either a semester or an academic year in ten countries and about 350 American students benefit from it. According to the official website of the Church of the Brethren, “BCA carefully seeks to prepare students for academic and cultural transitions with a well-trained resident ‘programme’ director at each of its study centres. From academic, cultural, and optional service-oriented experiences, participants return more independent, self-confident, and globally sensitive.” Dean of the College of Fisheries Y. Basavaraju told The Hindu that the tie-up would lead to an exchange programme in which Indian students could be sent to the U.S.

He said BCA’s resident director would work with the College of Fisheries to select suitable courses and, in consultation with it, arrange for excursions and research outings in various places in India, as related to individual courses.

It would approve course designs, set appropriate U.S. grade translation scales and administer these approvals in the processing of transcripts from the College of Fisheries, he said.

Dr. Basavaraju said the MoU wrests the responsibility of producing marketing material and advertising the programmes on the BCA.

The College of Fisheries would, however, provide the input into marketing texts. It would receive a specified amount from BCA for every student in each semester to cover the cost of instruction and other academic aspects.

“The college will provide the 16 students with equipment, classroom space and fieldwork locations. If additional space is required, BCA will arrange it on its own,” he said.

The BCA would conduct student evaluation at the end of every programme cycle as per the MoU which had come into effect from January 1. Details were being worked, Dr. Basavaraju said.