Bhubaneswar, June 3: Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL) has been brought in to conduct the admissions to the three new universities in the state - Rama Devi University in the city, Khallikote Cluster University in Berhampur and Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur - apart from Odisha Open University in Sambalpur.
The institutions earlier functioned as autonomous colleges and had been upgraded to universities this year under the Rashtriya Uchha Siksha Abhiyaan scheme of the central government.
An OKCL official said admissions at all the three universities would be done online for the academic session 2015-16. "A detailed plan will be chalked out during our meeting on June 17," said OKCL chairman Santosh Birari.
The admission to these institutions was earlier conducted through the Students Academic Management System of the higher education department. The names of these colleges have now been de-linked from the system database.
The higher education department has appointed three officers on special duty for the three upgraded universities.
Utkal University's economics professor Padmaja Mishra is the officer for Rama Devi Women's University, Berhampur University registrar Manmath Padhi for Khallikote Cluster University and Sambalpur University's former registrar Sudhanshu Sekhar Rath for Gangadhar Meher University.
These officers will be the acting vice-chancellors till three regular vice-chancellors are appointed.
Srikant Kumar Mohapatra, Ignou's Odisha office director, has been appointed as the officer on special duty for the state's first open university in Sambalpur.
The Rama Devi varsity plans to start courses such as economics, commerce, English, life science and other subjects this session. The Rashtriya Uchhatar Sikshya Abhiyan will provide Rs 55 crore to the women's university.