PAU students serve up innovation: Healthy snacks impress minister
Punjab Agricultural University
(PAU), Ludhiana, received high acclaim during the recent visit of state finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
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As part of their practical training, students prepared and presented a variety of healthy snacks, creatively blending culinary skills with core concepts of balanced nutrition, the use of wholesome ingredients, and food safety. The nutritious food items were served to the finance minister and senior university officials, who praised the students for their excellent taste, innovative preparation techniques, and focus on health-conscious practices.
Commending the initiative, Cheema highlighted the importance of integrating academic learning with real-world skills, especially in fields like nutrition that directly impact public health. He lauded PAU for fostering a spirit of innovation and wellness among students, setting a benchmark for holistic education in the state.
Dr Kiran Bains, dean, College of Community Science and head, department of food and nutrition, emphasised that such experiential initiatives are vital for developing entrepreneurial skills among students.
"It is essential that our students graduate not just as degree holders but as future job providers," she said. She also stressed that building creativity, practical skills, and business acumen is central to PAU's educational philosophy.
Expanding on the university's broader vision, Dr Tejinder Singh Riar, additional director communication, said PAU, through its skill development centre, has been actively promoting experiential learning and entrepreneurship development.
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He highlighted the success of PAU's two start-ups — UDDAm and Udaan, both incubated under the Punjab Agri Business Incubator (PABI) project, where Dr Riar serves as the principal investigator. He also shared that through a wide range of specialised skill training programmes, PAU is empowering farmers and farm women to become agripreneurs, thereby contributing meaningfully to the rural economy and promoting self-reliance.
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