Dignitaries at the inauguration programme of school of commerce on XUB campus in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, July 15: The Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB) today inaugurated its school of commerce.

Additional chief secretary Upendra Nath Behera, who was the chief guest at today’s event, announced the launch of commerce programmes.

Varsity vice-chancellor Paul Fernandes welcomed the first batch of students and said that the course structure of the school had been modelled on the curriculum of some of the best commerce institutes of the country to provide students a rich learning experience.

Behera thanked the authorities for realising the need of a commerce institute in the state. He pointed out that the discipline had changed from the past and become crucial to foster growth of the economy.

“As commerce, banking, insurance and industries have grown manifolds, the opportunity that XUB would now offer to commerce students was much needed,” said Behera.

He also emphasised on the need to familiarise students with practical experience along with classroom education.

The university, on Monday, had also launched the PhD programme in management.

Minister of higher education Pradeep Panigrahy inaugurated the programme under which 27 students have been admitted for the current academic session.

The PhD programme has a total of 60 seats in different subjects such as accounting and finance, development studies, economics, general and strategic management, organisational behaviour and human resource management, information systems, marketing, operations management and decision sciences and rural management and development.

Students with masters’ degree (or equivalent) in any discipline from a recognised university/deemed university, with at least 55 per cent marks can apply for the PhD programme, the authorities informed. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of their academic records and will be required to appear for Xavier Research Aptitude Test (X-RAT) and personal interview. The approximate duration of the programme will be between four and seven years.

The XUB was formally inaugurated on July 7 at Nijigarh Kurki on the outskirts of the state capital.