LUCKNOW, July 23 -- Lucknow University is planning to launch a new faculty of allied health, aimed at providing students with professional training and better job opportunities in the healthcare sector, said vice-chancellor Prof JP Saini. Saini said the university had earlier housed a faculty of paramedical sciences until King George's Medical University was granted university status in 2002. Reviving allied health education at LU after about 24 years, he said, will benefit many students who wish to serve in the healthcare industry in diverse roles. "We will soon be sending the proposal to start this new faculty to the Uttar Pradesh state medical faculty for approval," the V-C said. In the first phase, the university plans to seek approval for three undergraduate courses under the new faculty: Health information management, physiotherapy and clinical nutrition and dietetics. Officials said these disciplines were chosen keeping in mind current demand in hospitals, wellness centres and the broader health industry. To meet infrastructure requirements, the university has already started renovating a vacant building on the campus, which is one of the key pre-requisites for starting allied health programmes. "If everything goes as planned, we should be able to begin the courses from the next academic session," Saini added. Highlighting the relevance of the programmes, he said allied health courses are witnessing strong demand due to good traction in the job market. "These courses offer good job opportunities and are among the most sought-after by students today. They provide a direct pathway into the healthcare workforce, both in India and abroad," he said. University officials said the faculty of allied health will focus on skill-based learning, internships and industry exposure so that graduates are job-ready. The move is also expected to reduce the burden on medical colleges by creating a trained workforce of allied health professionals. If approved, this will be one of the major new academic expansions at LU in recent years, aligning with the growing need for paramedical and support staff in the health sector....