Odisha HRD

Oxford University Chancellor refers to a 75 million pound grant as a once in a century opportunity; how should one refer to a $1 Billion donation

Following is an excerpt from a report in NDTV.com.

The school, launched in Oxford last evening, has been supported by several world leaders and a 75 million pounds grant by American industrialist and philanthropist Leonard Blavatnik.

… The University is contributing an additional 26 million pounds as well as land in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, where the School will be located.

The school will provide a highly practical series of courses, leading to a Master’s degree, with a unique balance of the humanities, social sciences, law, science, technology, health, finance, energy and security policy.

The first students will start in 2012 and student numbers will increase to approximately 120 within the next few years.

Lord Patten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said, “This is a once-in-a-century opportunity for Oxford.

75 million pounds is $117.15 million in today’s rate. Contrast this to Vedanta University for which the pledged amount is $1 Billion. While Oxford is calling this grant a once in a century opportunity and is chipping in 25 million (one third the grant) as a matching amount many in Orissa and India do not see the value of a $1 Billion donation and instead of helping its establishment people ascribe all kinds of motives. This attitude of many people of Orissa is exactly why Orissa is at the bottom of everything.

9 comments September 20th, 2010

A new College of Forestry and several new post graduate programs debut at OUAT Bhubaneswar

Following is from Dharitri.

Note that OUAT has had a Department of Forestry since 1987. Following are excerpts from a report in the Telegraph about this new college. 

… Apart from the usual four-year graduate programme in forestry, the college has announced PG programmes in agro-forestry, forest products, environment management, plant genetic improvement and forest business management for the current academic year 2010-11.

Each course has six seats with four reserved for candidates from Orissa.

Two seats would be offered to students from other states and abroad.

… Addressing mediapersons here today, Prof Rabindra Kumar Patnaik said: “With the launch of these PG programmes, more students will get opportunities to work in sectors such as afforestation drives, reclamation of land after mining, research positions in forestry. The demand for such students is quite good outside India.”

The College of Forestry, … has become the 16th institute in the country to have PG programmes on the subject.

“It has also faculties for five departments like silviculture and agro-forestry, forest products and utilisation, forest biology and tree improvement, natural resource management and forest policy and law,’’ he said.

“Apart from academics and creating quality human resources in forestry, this newly-opened College of Forestry will address many research issues on forestry, livelihood, natural resource management (NRM), tree improvement and problems of climate change. It will also address many policy issues on forestry and environment,’’ he added.

… PG programme in forestry is not offered anywhere else in the eastern part of India,” he said.

September 20th, 2010