DBT Star College Scheme

Department of Biotechnology, Government of India Ministry of Science and Technology

Star College Scheme is a unique programme sponsored by DBT to improve the quality of science education at undergraduate level by emphasizing enquiry based learning and nurturing the aptitude for research. The College was selected under the scheme of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India in the year 2011. Under the scheme, undergraduate students are encouraged to take special programmes in specific areas of science by giving special importance to hands-on experience of sophisticated instruments and learning advanced techniques in scientific experimentation. These special teaching-learning programmes enable the teachers to explore areas outside the prescribed syllabus and to implement novel and interesting experiments in teaching the regular Science curriculum.

One of the hallmarks of the programme is the interdisciplinary nature of several experiments conducted, where there are no virtual boundaries between chemical, biological and physical sciences. Several students who undertook the Star College programme presented their research work at intercollegiate seminars and even won prizes at these events. Some of the projects completed under this scheme culminated in the form of publications in national journals.

Ramnarain Ruia College has been awarded the ‘STAR COLLEGE’ status for its successful implementation of the programme and is the first College in the state to receive this honor. It is also the first college affiliated to University of Mumbai with this distinction. The College has already made elaborate plans to augment the Star College programme. In addition to acquiring new sophisticated equipment, the College has plans to multiply several of its facilities to increase the number of beneficiaries in terms of more students participating in this scheme.

The Star College scheme has been granted to six more Science Departments viz Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Bioanalytical Sciences, Biochemistry & Biotechnology. Under this the departments have plans to introduce hands on learning by acquiring additional equipments for the use of students.