Central University of Orissa, Koraput location finalized at Sunabeda: Dharitri

November 16th, 2009

Update on Central University of Orissa Koraput

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

The newly established Central University of Orissa at Koraput aims to set up five new schools in the academic session of 2010.

The proposed new schools include the School of Basic Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Development Studies, School of Indigenous Studies and School of Biodiversity Studies.

… The new schools would offer courses in subjects like mathematics, economics, nursing, pharmacy and community health.”For starting the School of Health Sciences, the Central University of Orissa is mulling tie-ups with Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi and for School of Community and Public Health with the University of Minnesota, US.

The Central University of Orissa will set up a Centre for Peace and Sustainable Development next year. The University also intends to run joint research projects and programmes with the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development, New Delhi. The Central University plans to offer PHD in five subjects- English, Hindi, sociology, anthropology as well as journalism and mass communication from 2010.

“We are going to sign a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the British Council for holding English language teaching workshops once in every three months. Our university will also enter into a MoU with the Chennai Mathematical Institute University (CMIU) and under this MoU, the faculty from CMIU will visit our campus from the 2010 academic session”, said Banerjee.

At present, the Central University of Orissa has two schools- School of Languages and School of Social Sciences. While the School of Languages offers post graduate programmes in English and Hindi; the School of Social Sciences offers post graduate courses in sociology, anthropology as well as journalism and mass communication.

Now the following is from Dharitri.

One needs to take note of the underlined sentence. I think in future when we have central institutions in "remote" areas, we should at least let it start for a year in a less remote location so that when they are depending on visiting faculty they are able to attract them. Once they hire permanent faculty the remoteness of the location will become less relevant.

4 comments October 23rd, 2009

How Orissa can get an IIM?

Recently there was some news reports regarding 7 new IIMs. This resulted in reactions from various circles in Orissa, including the CM. The CM shot off a letter to the PM. As per a report in Times of India:

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Naveen protested the Union government’s decision to ignore Orissa’s "repeated demands" for an IIM.

The Biju Youth Janata Dal has threatened a stir. As per a report in ExpressIndia.com:

The Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) has threatened to launch a State-wide agitation if the Centre does not consider the State Government’s demand for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Orissa.

Even the Oriass Pradesh Congress Committee has chimed in. As per another report in Expressindia.com:

However, the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has demanded establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the State.A memorandum was submitted to Sibal by the OPCC at the Congress Bhavan here today.

The memorandum maintained that as Orissa is witnessing rapid industrialisation, the necessity for setting up an IIM is increasingly felt.Stating that such an institute will accelerate the economic development and consolidate the quality of human resources development in Orissa, OPCC requested the Minister to announce an additional IIM for the State along with the seven announced by the Centre.

Besides, OPCC demanded establishment of one national tribal university on the lines of Indira Gandhi Tribal University at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh in view of the heavy concentration of tribal population and their economic backwardness.

In a sense this is a good development as this shows that the politicians in Orissa are now aware of the importance of Orissa getting its share of centrally funded institutions. However, their knowledge is half-baked. The news they are reacting to is not a new announcement. On March 28, 2008 when an IIT and 2 central universities for Orissa was announced, there were announcements of new IIMs. At that time it was made clear that the new IITs and IIMs were announced in different states. So based on that, Orissa has nothing to complain about. It got an IIT instead of an IIM. An IIT costs 4 times than that of an IIM and can have its own management school.

It would be good to have an IIM in Orissa. But now the central govt. is stretched to implement the new IITs, IIMs and central universities it has announced for the 11th plan. So it is very unlikely that they will make any commitments for a new IIM. (The IIM in Rajasthan was a recent addition to the list announced on March 28, 2008. It was because of a typo in the speech of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee; but the govt. decided to honor his speech.)

What Orissa can do is follow the path of Andhra Pradesh which made a deal with IIM Ahmedabad for a campus in Hyderabad. Orissa can approach one of the other IIMs and make a similar deal for an IIM in Orissa. Because of the proximity, IIM Calcutta would be a good candidate. For now that is the best path. In addition, it should be ready to push hard for an IIM when the 12th plan documents are made.

Finally, what Orissa should be really doing is to focus on the 11th plan documents and budgets and make sure it gets its fair share. For example, the 11th plan document mentions that 5 of the new central universities will have a medical and engineering college during the 11th plan. Orissa should push Central University of Orissa, Koraput to be one of those 5 universities.

16 comments August 31st, 2009

Orissa Education and HRD related headlines from our sister site in Twitter

Our sister site in Twitter is http://twitter.com/orissalinks. (Often when we are busy or do not feel like writing a full posting here, we post a micro-blog in our Twitter sister site. The Twitter sister site also automatically adds the headline from this site and the orissagrowth site. Once in a  while we will collect those headlines here. But readers wanting a broader and more immediate coverage should consider following our Twitter site at http://twitter.com/orissalinks.) Following are some selected items from that site since July 12th.

August 20th, 2009

Central University of Orissa Koraput advertises for 15 faculty positions total in 5 areas (English, Oriya, Sociology, Anthropology, Journalism & Mass Communication)

1 comment July 19th, 2009

VC of CUO Koraput makes the right move; pushes for a medical college

Following is an excerpt from a report in Times of India.

Central University, Koraput has requested the Centre to set up a medical college there in a bid to provide better medical facilities and educate local tribals.

"I have suggested the human resources ministry to build a medical college here because I feel the area needs it. But the final nod is yet to come from the ministry," CU vice chancellor Surabhi Banerjee said.

"Locals have to travel either to Vizag or to Berhampur to avail medical facilities and both these places are over 200 km away from here. The medical college will not only improve the quality of life of locals, but also provide scope for research in several diseases common here," Banerjee said. CU has also identified about 100 acre of land for the proposed medical college.

Banerjee said there are also plans to set up a nursing college. Several other need-based, region specific innovative courses will also be introduced. From the 2009-10 academic session, CU is initially beginning with five subjects. The school of language will offer English and Oriya while the school of social science will offer sociology, anthropology and tribal Studies and journalism and mass communication.

"We will take 30 students in each department. The faculty is being recruitment and we will begin classes from August. we will also appoint guest lecturers to take classes," the vice-chancellor said.

… CU also plans to introduce courses like maritime studies, disaster management, disaster management, environmental studies, rural development, and forestry under the choice based credit system. The university will initially function in the buildings of Silk Board and the local Jagannath temple until its own buildings are constructed.

Kudos to the VC for taking the above steps.

1 comment July 14th, 2009

Central University of Orissa @ Koraput location one step closer to getting finalized

Update 2: Tathya reports that the site mentioned below is not chosen by MHRD. They pick a site near Sunabeda.

Update1: Tathya.in has a report comparing the two sites that are in contention.

 

Following is from Dharitri.

 

2 comments June 15th, 2009

Budget approved for one professor, two associate professors and three assistant professors in each course of CUO Koraput

Following is an excerpt from a report in Times of India.

UGC sanctioned posts of one professor, two associate professors and three assistant professors for each course in these universities. These universities will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil and PhD courses. The admission process will begin from this academic year itself. They were already given a small budget to start their camp offices.

On Wednesday, UGC chairperson Sukhdeo Thorat had said these universities might try to get faculty from among Indians settled abroad as well as foreigners.

Meanwhile, search for the site of six universities — in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala — continues. In Haryana, the new university will be in Mahendragarh, while the one in Punjab will be in Bhatinda. The one on Karnataka will be in Dharwad and the one in Tamil in Tiruvarur. In the case of Orissa, the likely site will be in Koraput and for Jharkhand it is likely to be Khunti. Three existing universities — Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya in Chhattisgarh, Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya at Sagar (MP) and Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna University in Uttarakhand — were upgraded as central universities.

 

May 29th, 2009

Central University of Orissa, Koraput to start classes at COATS Koraput

Update: Hindu also reports on it. In regards to the location of the permanent campus, Hindu says the following:

While speaking very high about the proposed location for establishing the university which is situated between the railway station at Koraput and Danagadeola village over an area of 565 acres of government land she said that over the next five years the university could become one of the major attractions even for the tourists for its unique green campus resembling that of many world class university campuses in the other parts of the globe.

Following is an excerpt from a report in the Pioneer.

Vice-Chancellor of the Central University, Orissa, Dr Surabhi Banerjee informed that the classes in the university at Koraput would start from August this year. The university would function temporarily at the COATS (Council of Analytical Tribal Studies) and the courses would start from under-graduation to higher studies, she said.

…, the VC visited Deola village where the proposed university will be set up over 575 acres of land. … She thanked the district administration to locate such a suitable land and … After visit of the representatives from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the construction work would be carried out on their approval, she said.

There will be an entrance test for taking admission into the university and the entrance test would be conducted in around 15-16 centres all over India and for Orissa in Koraput, Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur. Subjects like English, Oriya, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Tribal Studies and Journalism and Mass Communication would be taught in the university, besides other higher and professional courses. Different kinds of schools will be opened on the campus like the Jawaharlal Nehru University and the head office of the university would function at Koraput and the transit office to recruit lecturers, readers, professors, management and other staff will function at Bhubaneswar, the VC informed.

The Central Government has approved the university for five years for the time being and the classes would start in the COATS which is being managed by Sabara Srikshetra Jagannath Mandir Management Committee and the existing Gyan Mandir, library and tribal museum are an added advantage for the students of the university, she said.

Among others, Registrar BK Mishra, Financial Advisor P Pati and Liaisoning Officer and Coordinator Ganesh Chandra Roul attended the Press conference.

7 comments May 25th, 2009

Thank you Digambara, Sandeep babu, Braja babu and the others: Looks like CUO Koraput will start in Koraput because of your efforts

Following are excerpts from a report in tathya.in.

Professor Banerjee met the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here to apprise him the developments on the new varsity front. 

She is clearly defensive and said that the campus will be at Koraput and classes will start in August next.  …

During the meeting with Chief Minister, she made it clear that the Campus will be at Koraput. 

She said that there seems to be some misgivings about the Second Campus at Bhubaneswar. 

Prof. Baneerjee seems defensive and said that all out efforts are being made to start the Campus at Koraput.

Mr.Dasverma was outraged over the decision and demanded action against the people concerned.

Young NROs led by Digamabara Patra created huge stir in both the state and at national level. 

Professor Patra wrote it to the Prime Minister, Minister HRD and Chief Minister.

More than 100 students, teachers, educationists and members of the civil society demanded immediate action by sending e-mails. 

All of them demanded that if et al the second campus will be opened it should start at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi. 

The Chief Minister’s Office(CMO), was flooded with e-mails from all parts of the world and the mandarins were worried over the matter. 

Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Principal Secretary to CM took up the matter seriously. 

And Prof.Banerjee was summoned to clarify the factual position. 

Madhu Sudan Padhi, Secretary Higher Education department, who did not buy the idea of Second Campus of CUO here, before starting the original campus at Koraput.

Mr.Padhi asked her to make arrangements in Koraput. 

Prof. Banerjee is now under pressure to start classes at Koraput.

Following is from Samaja.

May 8th, 2009

Samaja and Tathya.in: Conspiracy to have a second campus of Central University of Orissa (Koraput) in Bhubaneswar?

The tathya.in article is at http://www.tathya.in/2009/story.asp?sno=2873. Following are some excerpts:

… now its officials were not in a mood to go to the tribal dominated district.

The reason: lack of facilities like airport and modern health care units.

Surabhi Banerjee had been appointed as the first vice-chancellor of the central university at Koraput.

But, Prof. Banerjee, is in no mood to move to Koraput.

Sources said, the VC had been persuading the state government officials to open temporary campus of the varsity in the state capital instead of going to Koraput.

The newly formed central university authorities claimed that the academic activities could begin from temporary campus here till the building was constructed at Koraput.

By the time, the building would be over; Prof Banerjee’s term could end.

The Samaja article is as follows:

Considering the lack of higher education opportunities in KBK and Koraput, the Central University should be started, even in the short term, from Koraput. I am sure some rented accommodation and quarters can be obtained in the nearby Damanjodi and Sunabeda townships. In the worst case, if something is done in Bhubaneswar, under absolutely no circumstances, it should go beyond one year. The Vice Chancellor should plan to move to Koraput as soon as possible, and under no circumstances, should stay outside of Koraput, beyond a year. Otherwise, perhaps she can move to another university and CUO Koraput is assigned a new VC who is not averse of staying in Koraput.

Finally, even if the goal is to have multiple campuses of the central university across the state, there is no need to have one in Bhubaneswar. The second and other campuses should be established in KBK and other areas of Orissa which lack universities. The Bhubaneswar area has many universities and a National University is about to be established there too. So there is absolutely no need to have a campus of the Central University of Orissa (Koraput) in Bhubaneswar.

6 comments April 26th, 2009

Committee constructed to develop the initial programs and syllabi for the Central University of Orissa: Samaja

April 7th, 2009

The 12 new central universities will start with only research programs

Following is excerpted from a report in Telegraph.

Twelve new central universities that India is launching will start by offering only research programmes — MPhil and PhD — unlike existing varsities that are controlled by the Centre.

The new universities will focus exclusively on research, at least initially, though they can later expand and offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses not involving research as well, top government officials have said.

… But the 12 new universities will initially offer only research programmes, human resource development (HRD) ministry sources said.

“We will leave it open to each university to decide what research programmes they want to start with. At least one university wants to start with only MPhil courses. That is fine,” a source said.

The 12 new universities are to come up in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Bihar.

At least three of the 12 are expected to start offering courses from the 2009 academic session itself, though more may begin.

The strategy to focus only on research initially at the new universities is based on three major considerations, sources said.

One, it will allow the universities to initially “find their feet” without the pressure of a large number of students, officials argue.

April 5th, 2009

Central University of Orissa classes to start in June from a temporary location; VC Prof. Banerjee will be tested on her ability get one of the 5 medical and engineering colleges to her university

Update: The news item in Samaja.

Tathya writes about this. Following are some excerpts.

Central University of Orissa (CUO) will begin classes from June. … While CUO will have its campus in Koraput, to begin with a temporary campus near Bhubaneswar is being looked out to start classes from next Educational Year.

That is why Professor Banerjee has requested the Government of Orissa in Higher Education department to provide a rented accommodation.

Mr.Padhi has agreed to provide all out support for the institution.

Professor Banerjee is interested to make it a different institution and is inclined to start at least 30-35 departments in the newly carved out Centre of Learning.

However to start with the CUO will have 5 subjects and later it will go on including further, said sources.

… Those CUs, which has not identified land for the institution in the designated place, those can start it from the Capital City of the state, said sources.

So Professor Banerjee is busy in organizing things for facilitating classes from next June. Faculty hiring is the foremost in her mind and as she is eager to make it a top class university, the VC wants to rope in best of the talents from the country.

She is also interested to open Medical College in the University, but it will take time. 

… Professor Baral of Arizona State University said only five of the 15 new central universities will have a medical college in the first phase (i.e.,during the 11th plan).

So the ability of the VC Professor Banerjee will be tested in whether she is able to get a medical and engineering college to the Central University of Orissa, feel the educationist.

Considering that the CUO is to be located in Koraput, in the most backward area, KBK, of India, Prof. Banerjee must do her best to make the right arguments at the earliest and get a medical and engineering college to this university, argued Professor Baral.

Page 522 of the document at http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v3/11th_vol3.pdf given below shows that only 5 of the new central universities will have medical and engineering colleges in the first phase, I.e., during the 11th plan.

March 25th, 2009

Prof. Surabhi Banerjee named as the VC of Central University of Orissa proposed to be in Koraput

Following is from a report in indiaeducationdiary.

Union HRD Ministry on Saturday named Surabhi Banerjee as Vice Chancellor of the proposed Orissa Central University. The Centre appointed Banerjee, who was the VC of Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata, along with  14 other VCs of the 15 new Central Universities in the country.

Noted academician Abdul Wahid has been appointed as the first Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu and Kashmir while DT Khathing has been appointed in that post at the Central University in Jharkhand.

A PTI report names the VC of all the new central universities. Following is an excerpt.

Noted academician Abdul Wahid has been appointed the first Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu and Kashmir while D T Khathing has been appointed in that post at the Central University in Jharkhand.

The other Vice Chancellors appointed are Jancy George- University of Kerala, A M Pathan – University of Karnataka, M M Salunkhe – University of Rajasthan, Jairup Singh – University of Punjab, Surabhi Banerjee – University of Orissa, B P Sanjay – University of Tamil Nadu, R C Sobti – University of Himachal Pradesh, Mool Chand Sharma – University of Haryana, R K Kale – University of Gujarat and Janak Pandey – University of Bihar.

While N S Gajbhiye has been appointed Vice Chancellor of Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya in Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), S K Singh will occupy that post in Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna University in Uttarakhand and Lakshman Chaturvedi in Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya in Chhattisgarh.

13 comments March 1st, 2009

Central Universities bill passed in the Parliament

The Central Universities bill establishing 12 new central universities from scratch and upgrading three universities was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 24th Feb 2009. It was earlier introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17th Feb 2009 and passed in the Lok Sabha on 19th Feb 2009. Together with that the earlier ordinance was withdrawn.

February 25th, 2009

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