Bhubaneswar, Oct. 26: Efforts to revamp Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) have officially begun with the department of employment, technical education and training initiating efforts to amend the BPUT Act, 2002.

The first meeting on the draft plan included discussions to amend some existing acts and introduce new ones. Chaired by minister for employment, technical education and training Pratap Keshari Deb, the meeting discussed a series of changes.

The BPUT Act, 2002 will be amended to introduce the pro-chancellor’s post at the technical university in the lines of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).

“Since the technical education minister has a key role in the functioning of the BPUT, it was suggested that the minister should be made the pro-chancellor,” a government statement said.

Among other major changes, the draft plan has proposed to reduce the BPUT vice-chancellor’s term from five years to three.

The varsity plans to include two people’s representatives in its board. The meeting proposed to post a full-time registrar by choosing an officer from the Odisha Administrative Service.

The draft proposal has suggested inclusion of students’ representatives in the academic board of the varsity and recommended the deans of constituent colleges and faculties of all colleges be transferred every three years.

It was also mooted that two different cadres be created for the university’s teaching and non-teaching staff and its constituent colleges.

The draft also suggested that the BPUT would conduct an academic audit of colleges, before providing the no-objection certificate to colleges

“The time, when the BPUT Act was framed, was much different from today. The situation has changed and the number of colleges under the varsity has multiplied by several times since then. Therefore, the change in the act has become inevitable for better academic and administrative control,” said a senior official of the department.