Bioinformatics Centre, University of Pune.
Brief Bioinform. 2010 Nov;11(6):616-25. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbq027. Epub 2010 Aug 12.
An account of bioinformatics education in India is presented along with future prospects. Establishment of BTIS network by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India in the 1980s had been a systematic effort in the development of bioinformatics infrastructure in India to provide services to scientific community. Advances in the field of bioinformatics underpinned the need for well-trained professionals with skills in information technology and biotechnology. As a result, programmes for capacity building in terms of human resource development were initiated. Educational programmes gradually evolved from the organisation of short-term workshops to the institution of formal diploma/degree programmes. A case study of the Master's degree course offered at the Bioinformatics Centre, University of Pune is discussed. Currently, many universities and institutes are offering bioinformatics courses at different levels with variations in the course contents and degree of detailing. BioInformatics National Certification (BINC) examination initiated in 2005 by DBT provides a common yardstick to assess the knowledge and skill sets of students passing out of various institutions. The potential for broadening the scope of bioinformatics to transform it into a data intensive discovery discipline is discussed. This necessitates introduction of amendments in the existing curricula to accommodate the upcoming developments.
本文介绍了印度的生物信息学教育情况及未来展望。上世纪 80 年代，印度生物技术部（DBT）建立了 BTIS 网络，这是印度生物信息学基础设施发展的一项系统工作，旨在为科学界提供服务。生物信息学领域的进步使得对既精通信息技术又精通生物技术的专业人才的需求变得迫切。因此，印度启动了人力资源开发能力建设项目。教育项目逐渐从短期研讨会的组织发展到正规文凭/学位项目的设立。本文以浦那大学生物信息学中心提供的硕士课程为例进行了讨论。目前，许多大学和研究机构都在不同层次上开设生物信息学课程，课程内容和详细程度存在差异。DBT 于 2005 年启动的生物信息学国家认证（BINC）考试为评估来自不同机构的学生的知识和技能提供了一个共同的标准。本文还讨论了将生物信息学扩展为数据密集型发现学科的潜力，这需要对现有课程进行修改，以适应即将到来的发展。
