Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: Odisha University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT) here, which would celebrate its 52nd foundation day on Saturday, is set to go digital. On its agenda for the coming year are plans for introducing online admissions.

“Almost all universities of the state have digitised their admission process and we want to be part of that league. We will start e-admissions for our courses from next year,” said OUAT vice-chancellor Manoranjan Kar.

Initially, the varsity will outsource the online admission work to a private service provider. “Probably from the second year, we will try to do it ourselves by strengthening our infrastructure and technical expertise,” said Kar.

The College of Basic Sciences, a Plus Two institution affiliated to OUAT, is covered under the e-admission procedure taken up by the state higher education department in 2009.

The university authorities also plan to start e-governance to do away with cumbersome paperwork and e-finance for convenient salary disbursement to the staff members. “We have extended Internet connectivity to all hostels on our campus,” Kar said.

Authorities said work for an integrated campus for the university around Siripur area has started. “The constituent colleges lie scattered and the administrative block is located beside a public thoroughfare, which is not ideal for a university. So, we are trying to bring the segregated buildings together and make it a single campus. An architectural survey has been undertaken and the work will be completed soon,” said an official. Landscaping and beautification of the campus will follow this.

Officials said they had appealed to the state government for more funds to undertake research work and fill up vacant teaching and non-teaching posts at the earliest.

There were 40 per cent vacancies in faculty and technical staff posts, and 60 per cent in ministerial staff positions. Around 80 per cent posts of class-IV employees were also vacant.

At the foundation day celebrations tomorrow, an exhibition on farming technology developed by the premier university for nearly 150 farmers, students and other stakeholders from across the state would be organised. Odisha governor S.C. Jamir, who is the chancellor of all state universities, agriculture minister Debi Prasad Mishra and secretary Rajesh Verma along with other dignitaries would attend the event.

Among the major achievements of OUAT during 2012-13 are setting up of an education museum and a Training Veterinary Clinical Service for 24x7 treatment of animals.

A separate hostel for international students (15 have taken admission this year) was also established last year.