1.0. NAME OF THE PROGRAMME: DIPLOMA IN FORESTRY
1.1. PROGRAMME DEFINITION
3.1.1. Name of the Institute: Natural Resources Training Institute
3.1.2. Name of the programme: Diploma in Forestry
3.1.3. Duration of the programme: Two years (Full Time)
3.1.4. Location: Lobesa, Thimphu
3.1.5. The award granting body: Royal University of Bhutan
Natural Resources Training Institute
1.2. Purpose of the programme:
To conduct diploma courses in forestry for RNR services. The diplomats are able to advice on production systems, conserve and protect nature, conduct research, provide extension services and to manage the official works. Through enhanced knowledge and skills, it is expected to contribute to the rural development and the sustainable management of natural resources.
1.3. Specific Objectives
To provide knowledge and skills and it is expected to:
i. implement forest policy, act, rules, and maintain forestry related accounts.
ii. measure trees, logs, sawn timber, other forest produce and collect basic inventory data for research and preparing management plan.
iii. protect the forest from man and natural destruction by applying appropriate protection methods and enforcing forestry rules and regulations.
iv. Plan, survey, make estimations, construct and maintain forest roads.
v. do survey, mapping and demarcation of forest areas for preparing forest management plan and assessing forest damages.
vi. harvest, process and use of the different forestry products.
vii. implement the management plans.
viii. create basic awareness about the importance of wildlife and nature and to protect and conserve them.
ix. perform common tasks related to production systems.
x. assist in carrying out research activities.
xi. implement RNR extension activities.
xii. prepare common plans, budgets, reports and manage official works.
1.4. Entrance Requirement:
Class XII pass in Science with minimum of 40% marks in each subjects. Candidates should have enrolled and passed in Biology, Chemistry, English, Dzongkha and Physics or Mathematics
1.5. Learning & Teaching Approach
The programme learning and teaching approach is mainly learner-centered approach, where it includes class room lectures, group works, assignments, Block programme, excursions, demonstration and practical sessions. The nature of the programme is full time in-situ programme.
1.6. Assessment Approach
The assessment approach includes two main categories; one is continuous assessment carrying 60%, and the final assessment/examination of 40%. The 60% of the continuous assessment is done in variety of forms, sizes and frequencies. The block programme, assignments, excursion, viva-voce, examination and presentation assessments are included under the continuous assessment and 40% is for the final semester examination.
1.7. The curriculum structure and the list of modules:
It has semester I and II for 1st year and 2nd year from 2003 new admission. The modules offered for two year diploma in Forestry has following areas:
Curriculum Structure of Forestry Diploma ProgrammeYear 1 Semester 1 / Year 1 Semester 2
Module / Module Code / Credit Point / Module / Module Code / Credit Point
Common Modules / Common Modules
Communication & Extension I / CE11 / 6 / Communication & Extension II / CE12 / 12
Soil Science / SS11 / 12 / Farm Household Attachment / FA12 / 6
Specific Modules / Research & Statistics / RS12 / 6
Geographic Information System / SV11 / 12 / Specific Modules
Foresty Botany / FB11 / 12 / Applied Silviculture / SC12 / 12
Foresty Law & Policy / LP11 / 6 / Forest Survey / SV12 / 12
Fundamentals of Silviculture / SC11 / 12 / Nursery & Plantation / NP12 / 12
60 / 60
Year 2 Semester 1 / Year 2 Semester 2
Module / Module Code / Credit Point / Module / Module Code / Credit Point
Common Modules / Common Modules
Environmental Science / ES21 / 6 / Farming System & Marketing / FS22 / 6
Farm Economics / FE21 / 6 / Geog Attachment / FA22 / 12
Project Work / PW21 / 6 / Project Work / PW22 / 6
Specific Modules / Specific Modules
Forest Protection / FP21 / 12 / Forest Mensuration II / FM22 / 12
Forest Mensuration I / FM21 / 12 / Social Forestry / SF22 / 12
Forest Road / FR21 / 6 / Wildlife Science / WL22 / 12
Sustainable Forest Resource Utilization / FU21 / 12 / 60
60
1.8. Justification for Initiating and Continuing a Programme.
1.8.1. The purpose or philosophy of the programme
For a very long to come, agriculture will continue to be the main economy of Bhutan. Farmers will farm their land and continue to use the natural resources to sustain their farming system and their livelihood. The purpose of the diploma programmes offered by NRTI are:
o to produce extension agents who will work with the farmers and provide extension services to improve their farm production and enhance their rural economy through improved practices of farming and sustainable use of natural resources.
o to provide higher education to contribute to the critical mass of educated population of the nation other than the Ministry of Agriculture.
1.8.2. The continuing need for an existing programme
Most of the extension agents trained by this Institute are employed by the Ministry of Agriculture and are working in different parts of the country, providing extension services to the farmers and carrying out development activities in the rural areas. From this point of view, it could be stated that the programmes offered addresses Bhutan economic, development and educational needs.
The programme offered meets the identified training needs of the Ministry of Agriculture. The curriculum is in-fact tailor-made for the Ministry of Agriculture by looking at the job responsibilities of the diploma holders.
As the diploma holders of the programmes are mostly employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, a market analysis outside the Ministry of Agriculture is not done.
Looking at the study carried out by NRTI, the demand for the programmes from the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to be around 20 enrollment up to the end of the 10th plan period. Thereafter, while the demand for the programmes itself will be there, the rate of enrollment may decline but the demand from the private sector and individual for higher education may rise.
Considering the findings of the tracer study by NRTI, the programmes are stated to be relevant for application in the field. However, the technical content of the curriculum was considered weak and there was recommendation to strengthen it. Positive feedbacks were there for the social competence of the graduates
1.8.3. The demand for the programme
Under the pressure for employment, the student demand for the programmes offered is very high. In the year 2003, for 67 seats (including Animal, Agriculture and Forest), 310 students registered for admission interview. As of now there is no dearth of students with required entrance requirements. The planned intake number so far was based on the demand of Ministry of Agriculture but now the intake is based on our Institute capacity.
1.8.4. The University’s overall strategy and facilities
The overall strategic plan of NRTI is to continue with the diploma programmes even when NRTI upgrades into a college and starts offering degree programmes. In the years to come, when the requirement of the Ministry of Agriculture for the diploma programmes goes down, NRTI will tilt more in the direction of degree programmes in terms of student intake number for optimum utilization of academic and other resources. For the diploma programmes offered, NRTI had adequate facilities both in terms of necessary staff and their qualification.
1.8.5. Planned Student Numbers
The projected students strength till 2012 is as below:
Year of Study period / Diploma2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012
27 / 27 / 27 / 27 / 27 / 27 / 27 / 189
1.8.6. Resource needs
At the moment, the resources needed for this programme is adequate in terms of faculty and infrastructures. The lists for the Academic staffs, Infrastructure and staff strengths are given in the last three pages.
However, if the training is to be of higher quality and for Degree there are some areas to be improved and added as under:
1.8.6.1. Library:
We have good number of reference books regarding the RNR sector but the book on forestry is quite poor. The problem could be that the books on forestry are not readily available in the near market such as India. Therefore, we have to resort to foreign publication, which is difficult and expensive. If the Institute starts with the degree programme then some how this problem has to be solved. In future with the degree course, the size of the Library could be too small. It has to expanded or built separately to cater to the needs of the future development.
1.8.6.2. Computer:
At the moment we have one computer laboratory and one Infotop. With the degree course, this facility has to be strengthened.
1.8.6.3. Faculty:
In future with the degree programme, we need to have more number of faculty members and at the same time we need to have more number of members specialized in different forestry subjects.
Present Staff Strength of the NRTI as of March 2006
Sl. No. Designation NO.
Academic Staff
- Director 1
- Principal 1
3. Faculty of Agriculture 5
- Lecturer 5
4. Faculty of Animal Husbandry 7
- Lecturer 5
- Senior Instructor 2
5. Faculty of Forestry 7
- Lecturer 5
- Senior Instructor 2
6. Faculty of Extension & Communication 5
- Lecturer 5
Administrative and Support Staff
7. Administrative Officer 1
8. Office Secretary 2
9. Office Assistant 2
10. Finance 2
11. Electrician 1
12. Technical Assistant 1
13. Plumber 1
14. Carpenter 1
15. Store In-charge 2
16. Librarian Assistant 2
17. Physical Education Instructor 1
18. Drivers 5
19. Cooks 4
20. Caretaker 1
21. Farm Attendant 4
22. Night Guard 1
23. Assistant Data Manager 1
24. ICT 2
25. PABX Operator 1
26. Maintenance Attendant 2
Total 63
Professional background of Academic Staff as of March 2006
S.No. / Professional Staff / Position/Designation / Qualification / Specialization1 / Dorji Wangchuk / Director / M.Sc. (Netherlands) / Socio-economic Information for NRM
2 / Dr. Phanchung / Principal / M.Sc. (Scotland) / Animal Production
Faculty of Agriculture
3 / Jamba Gyeltshen / Lecturer (AG) / M.Sc. (England)* / Crop Protection
4 / Tulsi Gurung / Lecturer (AG) / M.Sc. (England) / Horticulture
5 / Karma Penjore / Lecturer (AG) / M.Sc. (England) / Plant Health and Prot.
6 / R. B. Chhetri / Head (AG) / B.Sc. (Nepal) / Agriculture
7 / Thrinang Wangdi / Lecturer (AG) / PG Dip.(England) / Crop Production
Faculty of Animal Husbandry
8 / Dr. Phub Dorji / Head (AH) / M.Sc. (Scotland) / Animal Production
9 / Dr. Penjore / Lecturer (AH) / M.Sc. (Scotland) / Tropical Vety. Medicine
10 / Dr. J. B. Gurung / Lecturer (AH) / M.Sc. (Australia) / Public Health
11 / Karma Nidup / Lecturer (AH) / M.Sc. (Australia) / Animal Science
12 / Kinley Pelden / Lecturer (AH) / M.Sc. (Scotland) / Breeding & Genetics
13 / Kinga Tshering / Sr. Inst. (AH) / Diploma (Australia) / Fodder Science
14 / Tshewang Dorji / Sr. Inst. (AH) / Diploma (India) / Dairy Science
Faculty of Forestry
15 / D. B. Gurung / Lecturer (FO) / M.Sc. (Scotland)* / Resource Management
16 / Ugyen Dorji / Head (FO) / M.Sc. (Scotland) / Forest Science
17 / Jigme Palden / Lecturer (FO) / M. Sc. (US) / Wild life science
18 / Ugyen Thinley / Lecturer (FO) / M.Sc. (Belgium) / GIS
19 / Ugyen Tenzin / Lecturer (FO) / B.Sc. (India) / Forestry
20 / Bagat Suberi / Sr. Inst. (FO) / Diploma (India) / Forestry
21 / Yeshey Khandu / Sr. Inst. (FO) / Diploma (India) / Forestry
Faculty of Extension and Communication
22 / Samdrup Rigyal / Lecturer (EC) / M.Sc. (England) ** / Agricultural Extension
23 / Thubten Sonam / Head (EC) / M.Sc. (Thailand) / Agricultural System
24 / G. P. Sharma / Lecturer (EC) / M.Sc. (Australia) / Environmental Studies
25 / Rekha Chhetri / Lecturer (EC) / M.Sc. (England) / Soil Science
26 / Bhakta Bdr. Shangshon / Lecturer / B.Sc. PG diploma (England) / Agricultural extension
· * PhD studies
· ** Deputation to SAIC
Present Infrastructure at NRTI, Lobeysa as of March 2006
A. School Building / Qnty.Convention Hall (200 Seating Capacity) / 1
School Building (10 Class Rooms) with ICT Lab & Laboratory / 1
Adm. Building for Management and Teaching faculty / 1
Student Dinning Hall cum Library & Leisure Room / 1
Student Kitchen with Althus cooker and Electric cooker / 1
Boys Hostel (128 beds) / 2
Girls Hostel (32 beds) / 1
Old Guest House for staff quarter, community hall & grocery / 1
In-service guest house (32 beds) / 1
B. Staff Housing
Staff House Class A Single Duplex / 12
Staff House Class B Double Duplex for 2 staff / 6
Staff House Type C for 4 staff / 3
Staff House with Garage for 5 vehicles and 2 staff / 1
Wage Staff Quarter with 4 units / 2
Wage staff Quarter with 2 units / 6
C. Vehicles
Coaster Bus / 2
Eicher Cruiser Bus / 1
Land Cruiser Prado / 1
Hilux / 1
Power Tiller / 1
Scooter / 1
D. Others
Forest Nursery / 1
Fish Pond / 1
Dairy Shed / 2
Poultry Shed / 2
Pig Sty / 1
Silo Pit / 1
Farm Machinery Store / 1
Mushroom Shed / 1
Green House / 2
E. Games and Sports Facilities
Basket Ball Court / 2
Volley Ball Court / 2
Mini Soccer Field / 1
Archery Ground / 2