Grant Overview
Chandigarh University's Department of Biosciences obtained a grant exceeding Rs 17 lakh from the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST). The funding is provided under the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and is administered through PSCST’s Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP) Hub.
Programme Details
The grant supports a three‑month residential training programme titled “Nature Conservator‑cum‑Ecotourism Guide.” Twenty participants will be selected for a blended curriculum that allocates roughly 35‑40 % of time to classroom theory and 60‑65 % to practical, skill‑based activities. The programme is designed to create a skilled workforce for nature conservation, sustainable tourism, and green entrepreneurship, with a stipulated requirement that at least 50 % of trainees secure gainful employment in relevant sectors.
Training Curriculum
Core training modules cover biodiversity assessment, flora and fauna identification, wildlife and bird observation, nature interpretation, ecosystem understanding, sustainable tourism planning, ecotourism operations, hospitality management, environmental monitoring, digital marketing, business planning, and entrepreneurship. The curriculum is delivered by a team led by Prof (Dr) LK Attri, Head of the Department of Biosciences and Principal Investigator, together with Prof (Dr) Sandeep Guleria from the Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management and Dr Sangeeta from the Department of Biosciences.
Field Exposure
Participants will undertake extensive field‑based learning at multiple sites, including the Siswan Ecotourism Project, Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandigarh Biodiversity Park, Chhatbir Zoological Park, Ropar Wetland, Morni Hills, Pinjore Heritage Gardens, Timber Trail, organic farms, village homestays in the Shivalik region, Hoshiarpur Eco Resort, Kalesar National Park, and Harike Wetland. These visits are intended to demonstrate how conservation, visitor management, interpretation, and local livelihood opportunities can be integrated at real‑world destinations.
Employment Outcomes
The programme’s funding conditions require that at least half of the trainees obtain placement in sectors such as nature guiding, ecotourism operations, wildlife and birding activities, rural tourism, homestay management, hospitality, destination interpretation, conservation work, or nature‑based entrepreneurship. The grant covers course materials, training kits, boarding and lodging, transportation, field‑visit expenses, honoraria, and other costs for the residential training of the 20 trainees and the resource persons.
Institutional Context
Chandigarh University is an autonomous, NAAC A+‑graded institution, QS World‑ranked, approved by the UGC, and the only private university in Punjab with an A+ rating. It offers more than 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and other fields, and has been recognised as the University with Best Placements by the World Career Review Council (WCRC).
Significance
The initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the GSDP to develop green‑skilled human resources nationwide. By linking scientific training, tourism education, and livelihood development, the programme aims to address the growing demand for trained professionals in Punjab’s nature conservation, ecotourism, and sustainable tourism sectors, thereby fostering conservation‑linked livelihoods and responsible tourism practices.