The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Awantipora has announced the introduction of new Master's and Four Year Under-Graduate programs in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Physics, Chemistry, and Molecular Engineering. These programs aim to provide interdisciplinary learning opportunities and multiple entry and exit options for students, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The courses have been developed to enhance students' employability prospects and integrate them into the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
In addition to the new programs in AI, Physics, and Chemistry, the IUST has also introduced a program in Molecular Engineering. This comes as Tomsk State University and Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) have signed an agreement to launch a new joint study program that will train molecular engineering specialists. The program is at the intersection of biology, chemistry, mathematics, IT, and engineering, and its graduates will create new products and technologies for biomedicine and agricultural biotechnology for the TSU School of Advanced Engineering Studies Agrobiotech. The English-language program will follow a 2+2 structure, with Russian students studying in China for two years and Chinese students spending the same amount of time in Tomsk. The program is expected to start in September 2024 [7e77f5a9].
The Vice Chancellor of IUST, Prof Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, highlighted that the new programs are designed to enhance students' employability prospects and integrate them into the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof A H Moon, stated that the Admission Notice for the session 2024 will be issued soon [fba3074f] [1ca8b0a7].
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi will conduct the Joint Admission test for Masters (JAM) for the 2025 academic session. The examination will be held on February 2, 2025 (Sunday). The JAM 2025 will be held in two shifts in a computer-based mode. On the forenoon shift, the examination will be conducted for subjects like mathematics, chemistry, and geology while on the afternoon shift, biotechnology, economics, physics, and mathematical statistics will be conducted. IIT Delhi is the organizing institute of JAM 2025 that will coordinate the admission process of only the admitting institutes. For admission, only those students can apply for the process who would qualify for the JAM 2025. The examination is for students who are seeking admission to various postgraduate programmes such as MSc. MSc. (Tech.), MS (Research), MSc. – MTech. Dual Degree, Joint MSc. – PhD., and MSc. – PhD. Dual Degree, across multiple disciplines by institutes across the country [92f46146] [bb722b4a].
The unprecedented program closures initiated in February by UNC Greensboro Chancellor Frank Gilliam are said to be a done deal. Closures in science and math, in particular, are leading to decisions that will constitute a serious blow to the ability of UNCG to be competent in the STEM areas. Starting this fall, there will be no courses in physics or astronomy for nonscience majors at UNCG by decision of the administration. Last year, 739 students took highly popular courses in astronomy and 60 more took conceptual physics. Someone will still need to teach introductory physics courses for science majors, which were taken by 539 students last year. The administration has made it clear that it has no intention of keeping the professors currently in the department, even those with tenure. The Three-College Observatory, managed by the department, will no longer hold public observatory nights or host shows at its planetarium on campus. UNCG will be the only large public R2 university in the U.S. with no physics program. The loss of the Department of Physics and Astronomy is a devastating blow to the university’s ability to offer a STEM curriculum worthy of respect. Coupled with the elimination of graduate programs in mathematics, these decisions have negative reverberations across all STEM departments. [d0962d40].