Theme-Based Minor Project Implementation for Basic Skill Enhancement in Biotechnology

Biotechnology being an inter-disciplinary domain, demands an adequate theoretical knowledge of allied subjects, good hands-on skill-sets, along with an ability to integrate biology with engineering for the graduates to be industry-ready. In this context, theme based mini and minor academic projects for V and VI semester respectively were designed and implemented for under-graduate students of Biotechnology. The objectives of the mini project were 1) To equip the students with basic skill-sets and impart the culture of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) & Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)and 2) to impart basic microbiological and biochemical skillsets. In continuation of mini project, students have to harness the capabilities of skills learnt in mini project to translate in to an industrially viable product, hence fermentation skills play an important role. In this perspective, the objectives of minor project were developed to impart the students with 1) basic fermentation skills at laboratory level 2) SOP of analytical instruments and 3) statistical analysis of the results. The minor project was implemented with the theme "Submerged Fermentation and Optimization of Process Parameters for Production of Industrially important Biomolecules". A multi-level rubrics-based assessment was followed to measure the stated learning outcomes.The attainment was highest (9.5) for PI 9.1.2, which indicated good team work and show lowest (7.0) for PI 13.2.1, which shows scope for improvement for improvement in area of verification and calibration of equipment. It was concluded that the theme-based projects were effective in experiential learning for the students which plays a key role in bridging the gap between industry and academia.