WOSC 2015: Marine education should offer incentives, says VC

Kochi: India's marine education programme should offer incentives such as incubation facilities for startups, an expert said Saturday.

In a talk on developing human resources for the marine sector, at the World Ocean Science Congress (WOSC) 2015 here, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) Vice-Chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup said industry link-ups were necessary to ensure better employment opportunities for students taking up marine and fisheries courses.

"Establishment of an industry incubation centre and industry-university advisory board, and tie ups with private sector for R&D and technology transfer should be seriously considered for the overall development of human resources in this field," he said.

He cited resource constraints, lack of motivation among students, increased unemployment, irrelevant and purposeless courses, and the lack of high-end research facilities as some critical issues that need to be addressed by Indian universities.

Other than the improvement of educational standards, concentrating on developing entrepreneurship skill among students will enable India to compete with China, added Kurup.

Referring to the lack of funds for marine related studies and research, he said that more universities are coming out with well planned documents for capacity-building in fisheries and ocean sciences, but their implementation may remain a dream until sufficient funds are made available.