HYDERABAD: Several thousand candidates from across the country appeared in the entry test for admission to the undergraduate degree programme of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) on Sunday.

Successful candidates would be given admission to SAU-affiliated colleges and the Umerkot sub-campus of the university.

The test was held at Public School Hyderabad where 70 blocks were set up with a separate wing spared for female candidates.

Stringent security arrangements were made for the safety of students and to maintain law and order at and around the venue.

According to the SAU administration, over 4,533 candidates, including 634 female, took the test for the academic year 2022-23.

The university’s five constituent colleges included the SAU Information Technology Centre, Institute of Food Sciences and Technologies, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Agricultural College, Dokri, Khairpur College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, and the SAU Umerkot sub-campus.

A total of 3,266 pre-medical candidates and 1,200 pre-engineering candidates took the test which was based on multiple choice questions (MCQs) style. They were supposed to attempt 100 questions in as many minutes.

Speaking to the media, SAU vice chancellor Dr Fateh Marri expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements made for the entry test.

Appreciating the candidates for taking interest in the degree programme, he said there were great job opportunities for youth in the agriculture sector. He said eight new degree programmes were launched by the university on its main campus, in its affiliated colleges and on the Umerkot sub-campus. He pointed out that many scholarship opportunities were also there for students. “This year, admission fee for female candidates seeking to study in SAU-affiliated colleges and Umekot sub-campus has been waived,” the VC said, adding that for the first time, the SAU would release results of the entry test under the supervision of its ‘testing unit’ through an automatic answer sheet assessment.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023