International Institute of Information Technology in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 20: The Odisha government today considered a bill in the Assembly to make the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bhubaneswar a non-affiliating state university.

The university status will enable the institution to innovate and pursue its objectives with devotion and diligence without depending on any other state-run bodies.

The Odisha-sponsored varsity has started imparting education in information technology and related areas of computer science and engineering since 2007-08 after a bill to this effect was passed in the Assembly in October 2006.

The institute has been granted academic autonomy by Biju Patnaik University of Technology to run MTech programme in computer science and engineering.

To make it a unitary university, the authorities had requested the state government to enable it to carry out its objects and functions in the line of other central autonomy university.

Science and technology minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said: “The university will be unique in imparting education, training, research and consulting in technology and related fields to develop human resources who will the lead the economy and the society in the coming decades.”

The governor will continue to be the chancellor and the director will head the institution. The director will hold office for a term of five years and be eligible for reappointment for another term till he attains the age of 65.

The governor will nominate the chairman of the board.

The board will appoint the dean of various schools and the registrar. However, the board, in consultation with the state government, shall appoint the comptroller of finance.

The senate will interact with the board of directors will be responsible for maintenance of the standards of instructions, education and examinations within the institute. The institute shall establish and maintain a fund to which all money from the state government, central government and government agencies will be credited.