Department Profile

History of the Department

The Post Graduate Department of Home Science came into existence as a one-room undertaking housed in the Chemistry Department in June 1977. M.Sc. in Foods and Nutrition was the only course being offered at the start. Space constraints led to shifting of the department to the ground floor of the Mathematics building in the same campus from where it functioned for about ten years. The students seeking admission to the course were mainly the undergraduates who had specialized in Foods and Nutrition from the college of Home Science affiliated to the university.

In 1979, with the appointment of a Professor in Foods and Nutrition, Ph.D. in Foods and Nutrition was also started. About ten years later in the year 1988, M.Sc. in General Home Science was initiated since more and more Home Science colleges running undergraduate courses were being set up in the nearby regions and these needed qualified teachers who could teach all subjects of Home Science. Around the same period from a six-lakh donation received from the philanthropist Mr. Jashbhai Khodabhai Patel and fifteen lakhs from the UGC, the department shifted to the J.K.Patel Home Science Bhavan built in the same campus, where it is housed at present. Acquiring an independent building helped us in our progress. Laboratories on each floor were earmarked, classrooms, administrative space etc. were delineated and furniture and other accessories procured.

The influx of girl students into the undergraduate Home Science college, the start of specialization at the undergraduate level and a deep aspiration to advance ourselves in the various specializations led to the starting of three other M.Sc. programmes in Family Resource Management, Human Development and Textiles and Clothing in the years 1997-98. M.Phil in Foods and Nutrition was also initiated with this purview. The fact that these courses were commenced with the existing staff is an indicator of the motivation of the staff members. At the same time, the DBT, New Delhi looking to strengthen academic programmes in the field of Food Biotechnology, identified our department from among 18 institutions in the country and thus we initiated the M.Sc. programme in Food Biotechnology in 1998 as an interdisciplinary course with the Microbiology Branch of the Biosciences Department of the same university. The focus of research was to be Food Fermentation as indicated by the DBT. The department at present also offers doctoral degrees in Food Biotechnology, Family Resource Management and Textiles and Clothing since March 2003.

From 2010, two P.G. Diploma programmes in Nutrigenomics and Food Designing & Quality Assurance were started to meet the current demand of experts in the field of Foods and Nutrion.

The department has been involved in teaching, research and extension activities in the various branches of Home Science since it’s inception. The Foods and Nutrition branch is over 25 years old while the other areas such as Family Resource Management, Human Development and Textiles and Clothing are over 15 years old

Past Heads of the Department

Present status of the Department

COURSES BEING OFFERED CURRENTLY (Since 2016)

1. M.Sc.:- [GRANT IN AID]
1. Foods and Nutrition (Nutrigenomics and Food Designing and Quality Assurance)
2. General Home Science
   
2. M.Sc. [SELF FINANCED]
1. Food Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics and Food Designing and Quality Assurance)
2. Foods and Nutrition (Nutrigenomics and Food Designing and Quality Assurance)
3. General Home Science
   
3. Ph.D.
1. Foods and Nutrition
   
2. Food Biotechnology
   
3. Textiles and Clothing
   

The major trust areas of research include:

• Functional foods and Nutraceuticals ( Antioxidant and Probiotics),
• Dietary intervention for specific health claim
• Nutrigenomics,
• Bio-processing (fermentation and germination).
• Molecular techniques for the detection of food pathogens
• Natural Dyes, contemporary wear, traditional textiles
• Posture Improvement, Better interiors
• Entrepreneurship development
• Environment protection and energy conservation
• Consumer awareness and enhancement.
• Women empowerment

The department has been involved in teaching, research and extension activities in the various branches of Home Science since it’s inception. It believes in preparing young learners for a career or vocation in life to meet the global challenges.

Future Plans

The department is striving hard to achieve the status of CAS under UGC-SAP. Along with this, the aim of the department is to impart global level skills to the students in the fields of human nutrition, food science, textiles and clothing and human development in order to provide optimum health and care to the community.

List of various committees:

Departmental Admission Committee

Departmental Core Committee for Ph.D. admission:

Research Committee for Ph.D. Admission:

Committee for recognition as Ph.D. Guide in Home Science:

Departmental Purchase Committee:

Departmental Equipment Purchase Committee:

Departmental IQAC Cell:

Student’s Grievance and Redressal Cell:

1. Dr. V.H.Patel (Convener)
2. Dr. Namrita Kola
3. Dr. Neeta Dave