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In News
- The Star College Mentorship Programme was launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
- It will help young scientists and students to innovate and find solutions to future challenges through peer learning & hand-holding.
About the Program:
- It was the first-ever Mentorship Programme for Young Innovators to mark the 75th Year of India’s Independence.
- This is a pan India Scheme that envisages Star College in every district of the country supported by the Department of Biotechnology
Vision, Mission and Goals
- Promote scientific temper:
- It is in line with the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address wherein he emphasized that the roadmap for the next 25 years will be
- Determined by the scientific and technological innovations and scientific prowess in all walks of life.
- It is in line with the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address wherein he emphasized that the roadmap for the next 25 years will be
- Hand-holding and peer learning:
- The plan envisages handhold at colleges particularly in the rural areas or lesser endowed areas.
- It will also conduct outreach activities with government schools.
- The Star Status Colleges will help in strengthening UG Science Courses throughout the country by mentoring the newer colleges.
- The plan envisages handhold at colleges particularly in the rural areas or lesser endowed areas.
- Organizing workshops, meetings per month:
- The programme will help towards the concept of networking and outreach.
Success so far
- Outreach:
- A total of 278 undergraduate colleges across the country are currently being supported under the DBT Star College Scheme.
- More than 1.5 lakh students were supported in the last five years.
- Level playing field:
- The categorization of the scheme into urban and rural categories during 2018-19 ensured a level playing field for applicants hailing from rural and urban areas of the country.
- Presently 55 colleges from rural areas and 15 colleges in Aspirational districts are being supported under the scheme in a short time period of two years.
- Comprehensive support:
- The support is not limited to the procurement of equipment.
- The scheme also supports the training of faculty and laboratory staff, lectures by eminent scientists, visits to research institutes and industry etc.
- Holistic Plan:
- This type of holistic support is expected to create an enabling environment for students to get motivated and pursue science education.
Conclusion
- Article 51 A(h) of our constitution states that it shall be the duty of every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
- Thus , there is a need for focusing on increasing numbers of beneficiaries in human resource-related schemes like
- Star College Scheme,
- Skill Vigyan Programme(Skill Development Programme) in Biotechnology,
- Biotech Industrial Training Programme and
- doctoral & post-doctoral and Re-entry Schemes & Fellowships, and other similar schemes.
Source: PIB
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