Bhubaneswar, April 5: A strip of land measuring 20 acres at Pallur Hill in Golanthara near Berhampur has been identified for the establishment of the Khallikote cluster university.
The government has announced Khallikote College will be upgraded into a cluster university under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (Rusa) of the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry. The 136-year-old college currently functions on an area of 23 acres.
"The cluster university will get a grant of Rs 55 crore till 2017 and Rs 65 crore for the 13th Plan till 2022. While 65 per cent of the funds will be made available under Rusa, the remaining will be borne by the state government," said a senior official in the higher education department.
Under the cluster university concept, Khallikote College will be made the lead college and the neighbouring Binayak Acharya College, Gopalpur College, SBR Government Women's College and Chhatrapur Science College will be tagged to it as constituent colleges. The Khallikote College will be given full autonomy to prepare course modules, conduct examinations and give out degrees.
Earlier, the college administration had submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the higher education department. Sources in the department informed that the Union HRD ministry would release Rs 18.3 crore in the first phase. The college is also trying to get itself accredited to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (Naac), which is mandatory for receiving funds under Rusa.
The department has planned to recruit an officer on special duty for the cluster university till a vice-chancellor is appointed. Appointment of more teachers is also being considered. The college currently has 47 teachers against the sanctioned strength of 90.
The upgradation is expected to ease the burden on Berhampur University which already has 128 colleges affiliated to it. Khallikote College has 18 departments including post-graduate wings with a strength of 4,500 students.
In a different development, the higher education department of the government is also considering amendments to the Orissa Universities Act for creation of the new university. Sources said the draft amendment would be prepared in consultation with the law department.
