Published: Monday, 28 August 2017 11:30 AM
First of its kind MBA program in Fisheries sector launched by TNFU
Having been successfully running their engineering courses in the fisheries sector, namely B.F.Sc. and B.E in Fisheries Engineering, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries University (TNFU) recently announced the launch of their full-time MBA course in Fisheries Enterprise Management. It will be a first of its kind management program for the fisheries sector in India.
A bit about TNFU
TNFU is essentially a state funded institution that imparts knowledge about fisheries, pertinent research as well as training through its
- PhD (in 7 different disciplines)
- M.F.Sc (in 10 different disciplines)
- B.F.Sc in Fisheries Science
- B Tech in Biotechnology and
- 4-year BE in Fisheries Engineering
All these programs are basically targeted at enhancement of fish production and utilisation in the fisheries sector. The University presently has its campuses in Nagapattinam, Tuticorn and Chennai in India. Apart from that TNFU is also involved in various projects like the establishment of aquaculture estates in Thanjavur, Chennai and Thoothukudi districts as well as a Rainbow Technology Park for the ornamental fish ta Kolathur and Madhavaram in Chennai.
About TNFU’s latest MBA program
Towards its initiative of offering a MBA degree in this discipline, the University has already established a separate institution called TNFU – Business School. The construction of the facility where this course would be offered is also complete, and it’s situated at the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) in Chennai. This has been accomplished with a Rs. 10 crore grant availed from the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
As mentioned earlier, this MBA program will be a full-time course offered from the ongoing academic year (2017-18). It will be run via self-financing mode. Talking to the press, Mr. S Felix, the Vice Chancellor of TNFU expressed his views stating that fisheries sector grows by an impressive 7% per annum, which is pretty good when compared to the daily and agriculture industry. Although TNFU consistently produces technical manpower for better handling of the fisheries sector, the management aspect of it is still largely managed by the people not from this industry. It is to bridge that gap that TNFU has decided to launch this new MBA program, which will be a first in itself in India.
If we go by the statistics of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI-2015), the fisheries industry of India is currently valued at over US $ 7.2 billion (in terms of gross business value). Furthermore, as per Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA, 2016-17) estimates, as much as US $ 5.8 billion (Rs. 38,000 crore) worth of exports happen in the sector per annum.
The university sources claim that the MBA program will offer students job opportunities in various fields including:
- Aqua clinics
- Seafood processing
- Seafood eateries and restaurants
- Seafood exports
- Hatcheries
- Organised seafood retailing
- Deep sea fishing sector
- Lab services for fisheries
- Commercial fisheries undertakings of the government
- Fishing gear manufacturing businesses
- Fish feed manufacturing
- Aqua shops and
- Ornamental fish culture sector.
Apart from that, the program has been specifically designed to improve the entrepreneurial skills of the students, equipping them with knowledge to start their own ventures in the fisheries sector, thus creating more employment in the field.
You can apply for this MBA program online at the university’s official website at www.tnfu.ac.in. All pertinent details about these different programs as well as their application procedures can be accessed there too.
The applications for this MBA program were invited in early August this year and you can submit the filled up forms up till August 31 (http://admission.tnfu.org.in:8080/web/tnfu/mba). The written test for the 2017-18 session would be held on September 20, 2017, followed by group discussion and personal interviews on September 27. The first selection list would be released a day after on September 28 and the session begins from October 2nd onwards. On a side note, please always refer to the official website for exact and updated details.
Stay informed, Stay ahead and stay inspired with MBA Rendezvous