Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has been awarded a budget of Rs.24.86 crores from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) for its Institutional Development Plan (IDP). The objective of the project is to enhance the learning outcome, employability, and entrepreneurial skills of farm graduates through excellence in education. The Tamil Nadu Government has also sponsored Rs.5.00 crores for this TNAU-IDP.
The project aims to transform students into leaders capable of managing agribusiness and becoming job providers rather than job seekers. It includes the establishment of modern classrooms and a language laboratory to improve communication and soft skills. Students and faculty will undergo training at renowned international institutes, while alumni networks and linkages with agribusiness firms will be strengthened for the benefit of farm graduates.
Pannerselvam, the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare recently visited TNAU to witness the facilities established under the Institutional Development Plan. He interacted with students and explored the Augmented and Virtual Reality Laboratory, where they showcased modules developed using cutting-edge techniques. The Minister also visited the Language Laboratory, where arrangements were made to teach French and German, and the Digital Extension Innovation Lab, where students demonstrated their video editing and digital poster-making skills.
Furthermore, 37 undergraduate students from various disciplines are undergoing two months of training at international institutes in Dubai, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Edinburgh. In an online meeting, they had the opportunity to discuss the programs they are undertaking and the potential benefits for themselves and society with the Honourable Minister.