Students who want to make career in journalism and mass communication can now take admission in Xavier School of Communications (XCOMM) under Xavier University. The new media school was inaugurated on July 2 by Archita Sahu, a popular actress of the Odia film industry. The students will have all the modern facilities that will help them enhance and hone their skills that are required in the profession. The XCOMM has the potential to be one of the best media schools in India. Earlier, an interaction took place between the esteemed visitors and students. The experts addressed the queries of the students regarding the media industry and prospective careers in journalism.

Green step

The students of Dhaneswar Rath Institute of Engineering and Management Studies (DRIEMS) College celebrated vana mahotsav with great enthusiasm on July 1. The students planted over 100 ornamental and medicinal plants on the campus during the observance of the vana mahotsav. The students of the college at Tangi have been taught to initiate measures for the protection of the environment, which has now become the need of the hour, since the last ten years. The college authorities have been trying to inculcate the habit of planting at least five trees by each student in their houses and surroundings. 

NAAC tag

The Ispat Autonomous College in Rourkela got the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) endorsement again. On the recommendations of a team, which visited Ispat Autonomous College in April for the renewal of accreditation, the NAAC authorities accorded B grade to the college. The NAAC awards A, B, C and D grades to colleges denoting very good, good, satisfactory and unsatisfactory levels respectively on the basis of their performance and achievements. The team that visited the college consisted of the vice-chancellor of Telangana University and two eminent professors from Allahabad and Pune. Ispat Autonomous College is the first among aided colleges of this region to secure re-accreditation.

The rigour of the three-day visit and inspection in April was handled by B.S. Chandel, the convener of the college and Pravat Mallick, professor in-charge, UGC. 

Farewell time

The students and faculty members of the Central University of Odisha, Koraput, bid farewell to the former vice-chancellor Mohammad Miyan.  The farewell function was held on July 4 at the Ladiguda campus of the university. The tenure of Mohammad Miyan, the second vice-chancellor of the varsity, who is also a role model in higher education ended on May 13. The current vice-chancellor of the university, Talat Ahmad, who is also the vice-chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi presented a bouquet and mementos on behalf of the students and teaching and non-teaching members to the former vice-chancellor. Mohammad Miyan retired after completing 14 months as vice-chancellor. The students of the university were seen bidding farewell to the academician whom they loved for his efforts in academics as well as administrative  aspects.

Seminar

The Sushilavati Government (SG) Women’s College in Rourkela, one of the leading colleges for women in the state, had organised national seminar on July 4 and 5 this year. The seminar titled ‘women empowerment through higher education’ was sponsored by the UGC. The students had an absorbing time, learning about the many aspects of women empowerment and came to know about many empowered women. They interacted in the seminar and shared their knowledge about women empowerment. Social activist and Padma Shri awardee Tulasi Munda was the chief guest on the occasion. 

Foundation day

Hundreds of students gathered at the lecture gallery of the Gangadhar Meher University to celebrate the 72nd foundation day on Tuesday. The Gangadhar Meher College has been given university status from this year. The congregation included present students as well as alumni who had come to see their college that is now a full-fledged university. 

Agitation

The students of the Government Sanskrit College, Baripada, had locked the gate of the college after they failed to receive satisfactory reply from the principal regarding the results of the graduation courses. The agitators said they were in utter confusion as the results of the Final Year Plus Three examinations conducted by the Sanskrit University, Puri, was getting delayed. The students also alleged that the principal of the college misbehaved with them. 

Counselling

A career counselling programme for the students of Plus Two (science) was organised by the Institution of Higher Secondary Education (IHSE) run by Siksha-O-Anusandhan (SOA) University last week. Vice-chancellor Amit Banerjee said students should always opt for a career in accordance with their aptitude and should not be coerced into a course towards which they did not have any leaning. He advised students to look inwards and discover their passion. R.N.Panda, the principal of IHSE, presided over the programme.