Undergraduate Practicum Assessment (UPA), an academic program for the final semester students of Paklihawa Campus is an assessment to evaluate the progress of students preparing to earn bachelor's degree and on completion, marks the opening of door for joining master’s degree and further researches. UPA has been in continuation at Paklihawa Campus since last 8 years whose main motto is to better students' academic experience and fulfill learning objectives. UPA is an opportunity to expose students to production problems, field works, research methodologies and documentation and create the 'Field Extension Laboratory' of the available improved inputs and technologies in the farm of IAAS as well as in the farmers' fields where and when possible. For the first time in the history of IAAS Paklihawa Campus, Research and Management Cell (RMC)  proudly organized the 1st Undergraduate Research symposium which was scheduled for December 14, 2021. The 1st symposium was motivated in the publication of abstract of this year assessments which is going to be upgraded into publication of proceedings in the coming years. RMC also plans to expand the horizon of the symposium by inculcating the various educational institutions of Lumbini Province and bring out the best of researches of the young minds.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF SYMPOSIUM:

To provide opportunities on sharing knowledge about different projects of agriculture and livestock sectors with other students, faculty, staff, and professionals in related fields.

To identify policy deficits and proposed priority actions in the mainstream field of agriculture and livestock departments from national, provincial and local levels.

To enhance the analyzing skills, reasoning and decision-making skills of the students.

To provide students with the educational experience of preparing a research presentation and presenting to an audience of their peers.

To facilitate learning about new directions in research and the many different areas of current research interests. 

To promote interaction among students and professors/ instructors of definite thematic areas to encourage them in learning about their interested research field for future potential education and career purposes, so it could lead to your next big opportunity.

To bring together the ideas of experts, researchers, field workers, governmental and non-governmental agencies working in different developmental projects, researches of various thematic areas under natural science.

To enhance networking and communication with the peers, faculty and professionals from different backgrounds. 

Symposium Summary:

The theme of this year was, "Transformation of Agriculture Education through Integration of Agriculture Research and Extension in Federal Nepal". This symposium- featured presentation from 4 theme paper guest presenters and 8th semester undergraduate B.Sc. Ag students on research projects and UPA works respectively. 

Professor Dr. Lal Prasad Amgain who was Dean of Faculty of Agriculture at Far Western University. He presented on the topic "Piloting and Promoting an Innovative Fertilizer Management Tool (Nutrient Expert R)- Maize for Improved Nutrient Management in Eastern and Western Terai, Nepal). 

Dr. Yam Kanta Gaire, Soil Scientist at IFDC, presented on topic "Nitrogen Fertilizers in Agriculture: Environmental Challenges and Their Mitigation Strategies". 

Dr. Govind Rijal, Agriculture Expert, presented on "Tips on Technical Writing to University Researchers". 

Dr. Krishna Kafle, Professor with major at Veterinary Theriogenology, presented on "Agriculture Technology transfer in the Changing Dimension of Nepalese Governance Structure". 

With the supervision of the 1st symposium coordinator, Mr. Rajan Paudel and the support from campus chief Associate Professor Dr. Ram Bhajan Mandal, other teaching faculties, Associate Professor Janma Jaya Gaire (RMC Co-ordinator), Assistant Professor Prakash Ghimire, Assistant Professor Ghanshyam Kandel, and help from volunteers (6th semester students) the symposium was successfully concluded. 

I feel really proud to work for around 1 month as the volunteers for the successful accomplishment of the 1st historic Symposium in our University. It wasn't not a cup of tea to just start from grassroot level and prepare for the whole accomplishment. A month long hardwork, team assistance and good guidence from our coordinator led to achieve the dream that many professor saw in years ago. We feel so lucky to be the part of such a glorious achievement. The experience was really thought provoking and thrilling. I got to learn much from diverse community and interact with winder circle. Next year I will be graduating and this year this symposium added milestone in my career to prepare well for the next year. These all achievements proves that" Team work always makes the Dream Work".