Bhubaneswar, Nov. 20: Xavier University, Odisha, will launch at least three new courses in rural management, human resource management and integrated commerce from June next year.

The varsity also plans to start PhD programmes, said the authorities concerned.

The School of Rural Management and the School of Human Resource Management will have 120 seats each. The integrated commerce will be a five-year course with both BCom and MCom and will have 240 seats. There will also be 60 PhD seats for various programmes, said university officials.

Classes will take place at the new varsity campus in Kurki industrial estate in Nijigardh village, which is situated near Pipili on the city outskirts.

Around 400 hostel rooms have been built and the administrative block is nearing completion. The faculty quarters are also being built, said a senior official of the university.

The process of recruiting faculty for the various courses has already begun.

The governing board has been set up with the vice-chancellor of North Odisha University Sanghamitra Mohanty nominated by the state government.

“We are planning to launch one-year diploma programmes,” said the official, adding that the existing programmes under the XIMB will also be subsequently incorporated under the varsity.

The Assembly passed the Xavier University Bill, 2013, on April 5, 2013. The name of its chairman, vice-chancellor, deans and registrars will be announced soon, said the authorities.

The state government had written to the varsity to furnish details about the progress of the institute and directed it to start operations in two years.

“Besides the business management course, the university will offer programs at the graduate and postgraduate levels related to several disciplines. With 50 per cent reservation for Odisha, the varsity is expected to put Odisha firmly on the map of specialised higher education,” said another varsity official.