Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies Kochi

Table of Contents

Overview

Established in 2011, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the the rural setting of the large city of Kochi (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Kerala. Officially accredited/recognized by the University Grants Commission, India, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) is a coeducational higher education institution. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study. KUFOS also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, as well as administrative services.

About Kerala

Keralam, the land of kera or coconut, is a never-ending array of coconut palms…sun blanched beaches…kettuvallams over enchanting backwaters… magical monsoon showers…silent valleys vibrant with flora and fauna…misty mountains of the Western Ghats…fragrance of spices…evenings reverberating with the rhythm of a thousand artforms…fairs and festivals… Welcome to Kerala benign and beautiful!

Origin of Kerala has been linked to a legend dating back to Satya Yug. According to this legend, Kerala rose up from the sea when Lord Parasurama threw his axe into it and the sea receded to bring up this narrow strip of land from underneath. Lord Parasurama, believed to be the sixth avatar of Lord Mahavishnu, threw his axe from Gokarnam southward across the ocean in rage and in repentance for his actions of killing Kshatriyas. The land of Kerala emerged from the waters of the Arabian Sea with the blessing of Varuna-the God of Oceans and Bhumidevi- the Goddess of Earth. The sobriquet “God’s own Country” thus bestows itself on Kerala.

Kerala lies along the coastline, to the extreme south west of the Indian peninsula, flanked by the Arabian Sea on the west and the mountains of the Western Ghats on the east. This land of Parasurama stretches north-south along a coastline of 580 kms with a varying width of 35 to 120 kms. Cascading delicately down the hills to the coasts covered by verdant coconut groves, the topography and physical characteristics change distinctly from east to west. The nature of the terrain and its physical features, divides an east west cross section of the state into three distinct regions- hills and valleys, midland and plains and the coastal region. Located between north latitudes 8018′ and 12048′ and east longitudes 74052′ and 72022′, this land of eternal beauty encompasses 1.18 per cent of the country.

The Western Ghats, bordering the eastern boundary of the State, form an almost continuous mountain wall, except near Palakkad where there is a natural mountain pass known as the Palakkad Gap. The average elevation of the Ghats is about 1500 meters above sea level, occasionally soaring to peaks of 2000 to 2500 m. From the Ghats, the land slopes to the west on to the plains, into an unbroken coastline.

The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) is a university established by government of Kerala devoted to studies in fisheries and ocean sciences. The bill seeking to establish the university was passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly on 30 December 2010^. KUFOS has its headquarters in the premises of the College of Fisheries, Panangad, near Kochi. The College of Fisheries, established in 1979, was a constituent college of the Kerala Agricultural University. KUFOS is the first university in India exclusively dedicated to studies in fisheries and allied disciplines. The university was inaugurated and dedicated to the nation in a function held at the campus of the College of Fisheries, Panangad, on 20 February 2011.

Dr. B. Madhusoodhana Kurup, a member of Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority and Director of the School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology, is the inaugural Vice-Chancellor of the University. Dr Mohanakumaran nair, Dean and head of Department of aquaculture, college of fisheries, panangad is the first Pro Vice-chancellor of the University. Dr Tresa Radhakrishnan of Aquatic Biology Department of the Kerala University is the first Registrar of the university

The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies is an autonomous publicly funded institution established on 20th November 2010, and governed by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies Act, 2010 passed by the Kerala Law ( Legislation 1 ) Department vide Notification No. 19540 / Leg.1 / 2010/Law dated 28 January 2011. This is the first Fisheries University in India coming under the Fisheries Ministry with its headquarters at Panangad, 12 km. away from Kochi city, along the NH-47. Ernakulam South Railway Station is the nearest Railway Station, 12 km away from the campus. Total land area is 69 acres.

The College of Fisheries, Panangad, Kochi, and the Fisheries Research Station, Puduvype, were disaffiliated from Kerala Agricultural University to form KUFOS which started functioning on 1 April 2011. It is the primary instrument of Kerala state in providing human resources, skills and technology required for the sustainable development of fisheries and the ocean. It acts as a centre of excellence for human resource development in Fisheries and Ocean Studies and the nodal agency to establish relationship with institutions and universities functioning at national and international level. .

The Governor of Kerala, Shri. Justice P Sathasivam, is the Chancellor and the Hon.Minister for Fisheries Sri K. Babu is the Pro-Chancellor of the university. The supreme authority of the university is the Senate and the chief executive body is the Governing Council. The Vice- Chancellor is the principal executive who is assisted by the Pro-Vice chancellor, Registrar, Finance Officer, Deans of Faculties, Controller of examination, Director of Research, Director of Extension, Directors of Schools and Heads of Departments.The state government has planned to develop the ground inside the KUFOS campus into an international stadium for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017 which is to be held in India.

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Education

The study of Fishery Science includes aquaculture, artificial breeding, fish culture and fishery resources. Teaching is carried out at the Panangad campus of the University. The university has teacher scientists, laboratories, fish hatcheries, farms, library and a computer lab. National Service Scheme, NCC ( Naval Wing ), Placement Cell and the Parent Teacher Association take care of the extra-curricular activities of the students. Facilities are available for sports and games. A hostel facility is available for both boys and girls.

The university offers undergraduate (B.F.Sc.), postgraduate(M.F.Sc.) and Doctoral (Ph.D.) programmes in Fisheries Science under the Faculty of Fisheries. The courses under the Faculty of Fisheries are offered in full compliance with the ICAR pattern. Postgraduate programmes are offered in four disciplines and Doctoral programmes in three disciplines. There are 50 seats for the B.F.Sc. programme out of which 31 seats are open. Seven seats are allotted to ICAR candidates and six reserved for children of fishermen. Out of the 14 seats for the M.F.Sc. programme, four seats are allotted to ICAR candidates.

In the academic year 2012-2013, the university started postgraduate courses in MBA under the School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Physical Oceanography & Ocean Modelling (M.Sc.-PO & OM),and Biological Oceanography & Bio-Diversity (M.Sc.-BO & BD.