I am founder Vice Chancellor of D Y Patil International University(DYPIU), Akurdi, Pune setup in 2018. After heading TIFAC for 5 years (2013-18), where Technology Vision 2035 was developed during my tenure for India, I wanted to come back to Education Sector since I felt that it is the top priority to achieve the vision. In 2019, we developed a very advanced and flexible program of Computer Science and Engineering with multiple tracks of specialization. With AICTE appreciating the program and making many similar changes in the Engineering program of 2020-21, it has become a trendsetter. Please see the details at :
https://ranjan.inb-techcomp-sci-and-engg-at-d-y-patil-int-univ-akurdi-pune/
Now we are starting to innovate in our offerings in other fields also. This blog is about our new BTech(BioEngineering) program of 4 years. We want to follow the same system of multitrack specialization as we did for BTech(Comp Sci and Engg). After inviting suggestions from all of you, we made changes. Here are the details.
Program would have foundational courses common to all tracks till 5th semester. In 6th and 7th Semester, it would have 6 track specific subjects. We have finalized 4 tracks of specialization:
- Bio-Chemical Engineering – Bioprocess engineering catering to large-scale cell growth and protein production
- Bio-Medical Engineering – Medical and assistive devices including robotics and instrumentation
- Cell and Tissue Engineering – Cell level manipulations, tissue engineering, biomaterials and synthetic biology
- Food Biotechnology – Food related bio-modifications and technological developments. Cellular Agriculture is likely to revolutionize food production in many ways. This would be integrated in curriculum.
Unique Features:
Meticulous combination of Engineering principles with Biological concepts: Students are introduced to a very carefully interwoven course of important topics of engineering and biology. This is an interdisciplinary course on the emerging technologies of biological applications.
Multi Track Specialization: Students are given an option at the end of the 4th semester (not at the time of admission) to choose one of the specialization tracks to make sure that they exercise this option after getting a better understanding of various choices. In each track, students get to learn 6-7 subjects to get in-depth knowledge.
Biocomputing: Keeping abreast with the current developments in the field of computing and data analysis, we introduce biocomputing tools and bioinformatics at a very early stage.
Design thinking and Fabrication: Students learn about the fabrication tools and designing techniques which can be applied in bioengineering design principles and can be realised in the fabrication workshop.
Futuristic Learning by experience:
- Latest Tools/Techniques: Various elements of the program, ensure that students learn from experience. The main objective of the program is to converge latest technologies with modern tools. Use of Artificial Intelligence is going to be integrated throughout the curriculum
- Internships: Students start internships/projects from the first-year summer. Emphasis will be given on solving problems affecting rural/societal/small industry and to develop empathy among students.
- Future Proof Curriculum: We have designed this program such that the courses including the specialization track courses can be constantly upgraded and revamped to prepare the students with the necessary competencies in order to excel and become future ready as the part of the workforce.
Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship: The students are encouraged to learn to take challenges, risks and create rather than merely be absorbed into the workforce. The course trains them to solve problems and encourages them to become a vital player in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Foundational Courses
Here are the likely foundational courses:
Track Specific Electives
It is very visioned program with strong foundation courses to prepare the students to meet the global research , innovation and manufacturing requirements. This area offers enormous job opportunities in healthcare sector as healthcare sector is fundamental to the sustainable global economic development.There is also need to impart strong computational skills along with the basic life sciences theory and practices along with focus on creation of Intellectual property and its management.
Thanks Dr Purushotham for your kind words!
He.. grt initiative…just wanted to know if students from pure bio stream can opt for which if these courses…or we need to hv maths also in 12 th standard…hp u can gv u valuable suggestions on this
Please see our website dypiu.ac.in for eligibility details
Great initiative by you. I am sure this will go a long way to create meaningful bio engineers.I am sharing this news to my contacts so that they get benefit of this initiative.
Thanks Deep Joshi jee !
Looks good to me Prabhat. With the foundation courses in Biology, will it be comprehensive to add ayurvedic component?
I am not sure about that since our focus is not so much on medical treatments.
A positive one, for sure. This course would certainly provide an ample knowledge base to the students. I have a few feedbacks w.r.t the Biochemical Engineering:
a) Courses like Enzyme Technology and Environmental Science & Engineering should be taught after providing the knowledge base of Bioprocess Engineering as it is kind of pre-requisite to understand the technology development part at the production level. In this aspect, you may float Enzyme Technology and Environment Engineering along with /after BIOPROCESS and DOWNSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES.
b) also, Environmental Science Engineering has many topics where engineering design of various equipment involved in waste treatment processes are also covered. Teaching this subject along with Bioreactor Design & Analysis would be beneficial to the inspiring students.
c) Courses like the fluid flow and biochemical thermodynamics may be put in Sem V as they would also be essential for others like Food Tech, or Biomedical.
d) None of the courses talks about whether the course is whether theoretical or practical/laboratory course in nature. Details regarding them should also be considered.
d) DYIPU has been running the BSc format so a fair view of laboratory infrastructure available on-campus w.r.t. this new course should be made available. Presently it is not there on the website.
These are just a few suggestions which you may consider in improving. If you need further detail on these comments, feel free to write to me. It would be my privilage to provide inputs.
Thanks Dr Sunil for detailed feedback! We do have existing laboratory infrastructure for BSc(BioTechnology) program. But in addition to that we would be adding more facility as we move into our new building, which would be used from coming academic session. We would update details of Lab infra on website.
It looks to extremely well designed course at undergraduate level. It has to be strengthened with experimental approach – practicals, project work, industry exposure to the students. I am sure Food Biotechnology includes Food Processing aspects as well. It should combination of ancient methods to futuristic way for food processing. Congratulations for introducing such course to undergraduate course so that at this stage develop different thinking. In short more emphasis on practical approach.
Thanks Dr Giri for your comments. We would connect with you to seek your help in improving the program further specially since you are based out of Pune.
Good initiate Dr Prabhat Ranjan. I am sure, under your leadership, this new course on BioMedical Engineering would be successful. I have seen that you have firmed up four tracks out of six that you have planned. I personally feel that two new tracks can focus on BioDesigns, that would focus on designs having relevance to Medicine, Healthcare and Instrumentation used in Life Sciences/Biotechnology & similar stream. Generally, India has remained a major importer of Bio-instrumentation whether for Healthcare or R & D in Biological Sciences labs. I believe this is not a very difficult area if we encourage our B.Tech students right from the beginning and encourage them to “Reverse Design” and also add IP into while reverse designing. This is about $ 30 Billion untapped market in India and many non-regulated global markets!
Second track could be ” Manufacturing Engineering”, that may focus on actualities/realtime training in this sector. These are just off handed thoughts. May be you have already covered these under course details. Good Luck!
We only have four tracks planned as of now since planned student intake this year would not support Six tracks. Each track would have Six track specific subjects. However we would keep in mind your suggestions and see how we can work them in. Thanks!
It seems to be an extensive program. Some futuristic streams that could be considered are 1) Nanobiotechnology, 2) Bioprinting, 3) Microfluidics and its biomedical applications , 4)Medical Informatics: Medical and Health Care Information Management, 5) Neural Engineering
Thanks for your comments. Number of tracks that can be offered depends on total intake of the program and possible facilities that are needed. Right now we have planned total intake of 120 students. As the program expands in capacity and if there is enough demand, one can add more tracks. However as subjects we are already offering some of them based on faculty expertise. 1,2 and 3 are being covered. We have intentionally kept Medical Informatics out of this. We want to add that to our BTech(CSE) program where we are offering BioInformatics already. 5 would be covered in the program.
Another untapped opportunity for India is plasma fractionation. With ~1.4 billion population, and challenges such as Covid-19 and many more to come, utility of plasma and its components will be in huge demand. Needless to say, any Bioengineer should also be well acquainted of Regulatory Affairs. I am pretty sure, this B.Tech. Bioengineering program at DYPIU, will equip students with ingenuity to tap these opportunities. Thank you.
Hi sir
I was digging some information on bioengineering courses for my sister and came across to your blog. the way you have set-up the bioengineering course curriculum it seems fantastic. I am so impressed with the specialization you are offering like Bio-Chemical Engineering, Bio-Medical Engineering, Cell and Tissue Engineering, Food Biotechnology. some of them I never heard of. A professor like you has a long vision towards students and society. Thanks
Thanks for your comments. We are setting trend for the country in terms of flexible education. Last year we started multi-track BTech(CSE) program. You can see details in blog as well as our website. This was appreciated by AICTE and a committee was formed to revamp CSE program of country with me as member. This has resulted in major change in CSE programs across country.
This year we have launched BTech(BioEngg) program on similar pattern. Similarly our MBA(Digital Business) program is with multiple tracks.Our all other programs are being aligned to this concept.