The University aims at providing leadership in teaching, research and extension related to agriculture and allied sciences and is strongly committed to developing the needed excellent manpower and useful technologies and their dissemination to serve the farming community of the state, in general, and the University jurisdiction, in particular.
Promoting and Propagating Agricultural Research
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad was founded on October 1st 1986 to provide leadership in teaching, research and extension related to agriculture and allied sciences. In a short span of little over 30 years, UASD has made a mark for itself. The University stood first in the Universities Rankings of Karnataka State Higher Education Council 2017. It has been adjudged as the best Agricultural University in the country and conferred with the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award 2015.It is accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, up to 2019.
Quality Education– The Prime Objective of UASD
The University offers an array of academic programs, including five Under Graduate degree programs (Bachelor in Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Marketing, Forestry Sciences, Community Sciences, Food Technology, and Agriculture Engineering) at four college campuses (Dharwad, Vijayapura, Hanumanamatti and Sirsi) and three Post Graduate degree programs (M.Sc. and /or PhD) at three campuses. UASD offers Masters’ Degree Programs in 22 disciplines and Ph.D. Programs in 16 disciplines. In addition, two years Diploma (Agri.) course is being offered at seven campuses namely, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Kumatha, Jamakhandi, Konnur, Nippani and Hanumanamatti. Currently, it hosts about 4000 students in Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral and Diploma programs. It has a cosmopolitan outlook with students admitted from the ICAR stream, DBT-JNU entrance test and international nominations from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Ethiopia, Syria, Afghanistan, Kenya, Canada, USA, Nigeria, and so on.
The University and its sub campuses are equipped with well-furnished modern administrative and office buildings, class rooms and research laboratories, hostels, library, and sports facilities. It also houses the following: Institute of Agri-Biotechnology (IABT); Agri-Business and Export Knowledge Centre; Institute of Organic Farming; Pesticide Residue Testing and Quality Analysis Laboratory; Food Testing and Processing Laboratory; Krishi Community Radio Station and Seed Processing Unit, Global Forum for Climate Change, International Center for Agriculture Development (ICAD) etc. The University has signed more than 100 MOUs with several national and international educational and research institutions.
Insightful Leadership
UASD has flourished under the astute leadership of the present Vice Chancellor, Dr. D.P. Biradar. He is a Doctorate from the University of Illinois, USA, holding three post docs from US, UK, and Germany. He has bagged several awards including CV Raman Young Scientist Award, Dewang Mehta and Golden Globe Tigers in educational leadership awards. Ever since he joined the University as the Chief Executive, he has initiated several innovative programmes and has contributed immensely for the development of the University. Some of them include: 1) Establishment of International Centre for Agricultural Development (ICAD); 2) Global Water Meet for Climate Change Adaptation: Agrarian Perspectives was organized duirng 24-26 October 2016 which culminated in Dharwad Declaration 2016 and setting up of Global Forum for Climate Change Adaptation; 3) Introductionof a unique “Study Abroad Programme” for UG and PG students; 4) Staff Research Projects have been increased with enhanced budgetary support; 5) Raith Chetana a Help Line (1800-425-1150) was started at UAS, Dharwad in association with Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (DIMHANS) to attend calls of farmers in distress and counsel them; 6) Special training for Yuva Krishika and Yuva Krishi Mahile winners and Jai Jawan- Jai Kisan programme for training Ex Service men. Here the awardees have been invited to the University for specialized training programme for faster transfer of technology and effective implementation; 7) Farm Science Journal in collaboration with UHS, Bagalkot, UAHS, Shivamogga and UAS, Raichur; 8) Decentralization of administrative and financial powers and application of ICT; and 9) Deputation of large number of scientists to international organizations for training/conference; 10) Initiated new academic programmes in Agricultural Engineering and Diploma in Forestry; 11) Supported leadership programme in developing course curriculum in Nepal Agriculture and Forestry University and capacity building in seed research and processing in LUANAR, Malawi (Africa); 12) Initiated special training programmes for the Faculty and Staff and Induction Training Programmes for the New Recruitees.
Eminent Alumni
Since its establishment, UASD has produced thousands of graduates who have made it big in different walks of life, including farming, agribusiness, civil administration, civil society, politics and foreign affairs. Some notable alumni include a) Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Secretary to Agriculture Department, Government of India, b) Mr. L. K. Atheeq, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister of Karnataka, c) Dr. Basavaraj Girennavar (Agribusiness), and so on.
Financial Support Initiatives
The University not only aims at achieving educational excellence, but has also taken major steps to support the students financially. Some of these include: i) Post-Doctoral Fellowships; ii) General Merit Fellowships; iii) UAS Merit Fellowships; iv) Cash awards; v) Zero mess bills and laptop to SC/ST students; vi) Financial support to PG students to attend national academic events; vii) Fellowship to PG students under Staff Research Project; viii) Financial support for International Study Abroad Program; ix) Financial support for innovative research projects; etc.
Annual Events and Extra-Curricular Activities
UASD conducts a number of annual events and activities with the objective of maintaining a balance between education and co-curricular activities. These events attract massive participation from the students. Every year, it organizes a mega event called ‘Krishi Mela’, encouraging participation from 15 lakh people. Apart from that, a number of other events are conducted annually including Youth festival, Sports Meet, Athletic Meet, Students’ Association Programmes, induction to newcomers and farewell to passing out students, Zonal Research and Extension Policy Formulation workshops, National workshops, Symposia, and Seminars.
Career Opportunities for Students at UASD
Agriculture graduates have a wide range of career options to choose from. A student with a degree in agriculture develops the knowledge and skills to manage agriculture businesses or work in various fields of education, research and outreach in agriculture, marketing, forestry, community/home sciences, food processing, agricultural engineering fields and so on. Through UASD, a student can also have a career in farming, agribusiness, self-enterprise, voluntary organizations, and research positions in public and private sectors, along with research and teaching avenues in national and foreign universities.
