An interactive workshop on “Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges” was organised by Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SoA) University, Bhubaneswar, on April 29. A large number of principals, academicians and college teachers attended the workshop. “Amid growing perceptions that the standard of higher education was on the decline, teachers should be encouraged to update their knowledge to arrest the slide and improve the situation,” said chief guest D.P. Ray, who is the vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology. “Teachers need to update their knowledge, increase their skill set and expand their outlook,” Ray said, adding that there was a need for collaboration between colleges and universities in training and equipping teachers. He said privately-run institutions were able to maintain standards as they did not have to face the restrictions that government-run institutions had to contend with. Ray said a large number of posts of teachers and other staff had been lying vacant at the government-run institutions. Regional director of higher education in the state K.P. Mohapatra said opportunities for students had opened up after the globalisation in 1991 and the government was encouraging the private sector to create excellent infrastructure and academic facilities in higher education. He said subjects such as physics, chemistry, mathematics or biology would not help in shaping the student’s character, and that teaching should also inculcate values in students. R.N. Panda, director of the Institute of Higher Secondary Education (a Plus Two college run by SoA University), also spoke about the commercialisation of technical education and introducing reforms in the sector. All-round performance nScintilla-2012, the third annual function of ASBM Institute of BBA, Bhubaneswar, was held earlier this week to celebrate the success of students in various fields. Winners of competitions such as quiz, painting, essay, debate, extempore, song, dance and mimicry were awarded with trophies and certificates. Student Barsha Aggarwal received the champion’s trophy for all-round performance. The literary magazine of the institute, Samadhan, was released on the occasion. Minister for revenue and disaster management Surjya Narayan Patro — the chief guest — addressed the students and faculty members. He said quality management education had become the need of the hour with the rapid growth of liberalisation and globalisation and would contribute to building resourceful human capital. Green pledge nStudents of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, launched a “Go Green” campaign earlier this week. Nearly 50 students from different departments joined hands and took out a rally, spreading the message of a “clean and green environment”. They have pledged to undertake plantation programmes on the campus, in their neighbourhood and various parts of the city. The programme is expected to start from July, said Hari Shankar Rout, a student. Winner takes it all nThe Dhaneswar Rath Institute of Engineering and Management Studies (Driems) at Tangi on the outskirts of Cuttack bagged the prestigious state-level “Edufest-2012” award as the best institute for student welfare and amenities provided. Driems director Durga Prasad Rath received the award from Biju Janata Dal deputy chief whip and Nayagarh MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo at a programme held in Bhubaneswar recently. Maharishi College of Natural Law, Bhubaneswar, won the Best Daredevils Masters award for its performance on the Capital Foundation Day. A team from the college, under the leadership of flying officer Mihir Saran, had exhibited motorcycle stunts on April 13 in the capital. On hire ground nA campus recruitment drive was conducted by Modern Engineering and Management Studies (Mems), Balasore, last week by Chennai-based company World Biz Global Services. After three rounds of selection tests, 13 of the 45 participants were selected by the company. “This season, we have already conducted four rounds of campus placement programmes. Our aim is to give the students maximum opportunities by exposing them to the recruitment patterns of various institutions and organisations,” said college chairman, Himansu Das. Noble effort nSocial activist and writer Mahasweta Devi inaugurated the annual lecture series at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar, on April 30. She was accompanied by actress and social worker Deepti Naval. They both spoke about equal rights for men and women, and tribal people in front of a packed audience at the institute. A tireless crusader for tribal rights and empowerment, Mahasweta Devi spoke about time spent with different tribal groups across the country. “I am happy to note that over 16,000 tribal children are staying and studying here. Only education can help them join the mainstream,” said Mahasweta Devi. Graduation day nStudents from different parts of the country who completed their postgraduate diploma in management from Bhavan’s Centre for Communication and Management, Bhubaneswar, attended a glittering convocation ceremony on April 28. Odisha governor M.C. Bhandare gave away the certificates to the graduating students. Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Bhubnaeswar, Major B.K. Mohapatra and dean-cum-director general S.K. Tamotia presented a report on the rapid strides made by the institute.