Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: The students of MSc Botany from the University of Jammu, undertook a Botanical cum Educational tour to world famous and India’s high ranking JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty (Tamil Nadu)-a prime institution of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, as part of their academic enrichment programme.
The visit was aimed at providing students with practical exposure to pharmacognosy education, research infrastructure, and plant drug manufacturing processes, thereby strengthening interdisciplinary learning between botany and pharmaceutical sciences.
The visiting team was warmly received by Dr. B. Duraiswamy, who facilitated a detailed academic interaction and guided the students through the advanced practical laboratory facilities of the college.
The students were introduced to modern analytical instruments, quality control laboratories, and research setups, enabling them to understand contemporary techniques used in pharmaceutical research and development. Particular emphasis was laid on the utilization of plant-based resources in pharmacognosy, phyto-chemistry, pharmacology and herbal drug formulation. During the visit, the students also toured the drug manufacturing units of the institution, where they were acquainted with various stages of pharmaceutical production, including formulation, processing, packaging, and quality assurance.
The exposure helped students understand Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regulatory standards essential for maintaining quality and safety in drug manufacturing.
As part of the botanical component of the tour, the students also visited the world-famous Government Botanical Garden, located on the slopes of the Doddabetta Peak at Ooty. The visit provided an opportunity to observe a rich diversity of endemic and temperate plant species maintained and growing under diverse ecological conditions.
The students studied plant taxonomy, landscape design, and conservation strategies adopted for preserving rare and threatened species. In addition, the group visited the Rose Garden, where they observed a wide array of rose varieties and learned about ornamental plant breeding, cultivation practices, and aesthetic landscaping.
The tour was accompanied by Prof. Yash Pal Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences and Dr. Harish Chander Dutt.
Prof. Sharma highlighted the academic significance of such educational tours in bridging theoretical knowledge with practical applications, while Dr. Dutt emphasized the growing relevance of botanical sciences in drug discovery, natural product research, and sustainable bio-resource utilization.
The Department of Botany, University of Jammu, gratefully acknowledged the encouragement and continuous support provided by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Umesh Rai, whose vision for experiential and field-based learning has made such academic initiatives possible.
The students expressed their appreciation to the authorities of JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, for their warm hospitality and for providing a highly informative and inspiring academic experience.DD
