Varsity status likely for 3 colleges

Times of India, Jan 3, 2013
BERHAMPUR: The government plans to accord deemed university status to three premier colleges of the state, including Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur, Rama Devi Women's College, Bhubaneswar and Gangadhar Meher College, Sambalpur.

"We have proposed to make three colleges deemed universities. Before taking the final decision, the higher education department will review the infrastructure facilities available in these colleges," higher education minister Badri Naryan Patra said here on Wednesday. But he did not spell out the specific period for upgradation of these colleges. "It may be this year or next year," he said during the Foundation Day celebration of Berhampur University here.

He said people and students of Berhampur have demanded that the 135-year-old Khallikote autonomous college be converted into a deemed university. But it has only one-third teaching staff against the sanctioned strength of around 90. "Khallikote College is not only one. There is a shortage of teaching staff in several other government colleges. We will fill up some posts soon," he said.

The minister also said that his department would move to finance department to accord concurrence to open some new departments in Berhampur University. The university has not opened new departments despite UGC sanction for lack of government concurrence. As a result, the university lost UGC funds sanctioned for it.

Vice chancellor of Berhampur University J K Mohapatra appealed to the minister to call a conference all vice chancellors in the state to review the problems faced by universities. "I hope that will be a best forum to resolve problems of all universities," Mohapatra said.

The varsity felicitated former station director of All India Radio (AIR) Madhusudan Panigrahi and Dr Chandramani Swain, a doctor, for their contribution to the society.

The minister also inaugurated the state-of-art laboratory, where the students will be taught on personality development to become job-ready. The laboratory has been developed with Rs 10 lakh assistance from the UGC while Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagapur, has provided the technical know-how for the functioning of the laboratory. In-charge of the laboratory Sadananda Nayak said the students will not have to pay any extra amount to undergo training at the laboratory.