Balasore: The higher education department has cleared the opening of 10 departments in one go at Fakir Mohan University from 2018-19.

The departments to be opened are history, archaeology, commerce, mathematics, botany, zoology, geography, education, geology and journalism & mass communication.

With the opening of the new departments, the north Odisha university will have a total of 18 departments. Of the 10 new departments, eight are of core subjects, said the university . Vice-chancellor of the university Madhumita Das said: "We have been trying to open the new departments since long and our dream has been now fulfilled."

Educator Ashok Panigrahi said: "Due to the lack of core and demanding subjects, students were migrating to other universities. The new departments would be of great help to students."

The higher education department notification said 60 teachers would be appointed with each new department having six faculty members - a professor, two associate professors and three assistant professors.

University registrar Amar Singh Soren said admission to the new departments would begin from the 2018-19 academic session.

"We have adequate infrastructure to accommodate the new departments. Three subjects which were running in self-financing mode would be closed," he said.