Achyuta Samanta, founder of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (left), Bhubaneswar signs an MoU with GB Joshi, director of National Mineral Development Corporation to open a branch of the institute in Bastar. Telegraph picture

Admission season is here

The admission procedure of first selection into undergraduate courses of BJB (Autonomous) College, Bhubaneswar, concluded last week. A total of 632 students were admitted in arts, science and commerce streams. The cut-off percentage of arts for general students stood at 63.50 per cent and 363 students got admission against the availability of 457 seats. In science, for students with physics-chemistry-mathematics (PCM) combination, the cut-off marks stood at 84.33 per cent and for chemistry-zoology-botany (CBZ) combination, the qualifying mark was 80.33 per cent. Sixty seats were filled up for the PCM combination against the availability of 106 seats and 35 seats got filled up for CBZ combination against 57 seats. For commerce stream, the cut-off for general students was 77.58 percent and 174 students were admitted against 236 seats. The second selection merit list was announced on July 6 at 11am. Accordingly, the admission would be conducted on July 11 and 12. Classes for the first year students in all degree colleges would commence from July 27.

First day in college

(Top) Chairman of CV Raman of College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar, Sanjib Kumar Rout (second from left), with members of Nova South Eastern University, USA. (Above) Students participate in the admission process at BJB (Autonomous) College in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Groups of teenagers walked into the classrooms of the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and Sum Hospital, Bhubaneswar, for their first day of medical college on July 1. The event coincided with Doctor’s Day. Their parents and guardians accompanied most of them. The young boys and girls first attended a welcome ceremony where they were greeted by vice-chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, S.C. Mishra, and IMS and Sum Hospital dean, D.K. Roy. Orienting the students about the duties of a doctor and the facilities being offered at the institute, Roy said they were planning to keep the library open throughout the night. Earlier, it used to be shut after 11pm. Managing member of the university, Gopabandhu Kar said a proctoral system would be introduced at the IMS and mentors from among the faculty would be appointed for groups of students. The students could approach them for sorting out their academic problems and clear doubts. Medical superintendent, B.N. Panda counselled the students. Heads of departments and senior teachers of several departments including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and community medicine also welcomed the students and introduced the faculty members.

Rath yatra on radio

Ravenshaw Radio 90.4 MHz, the campus community radio station of Cuttack’s Ravenshaw University, took a giant leap with live commentary of rath yatra on July 3 from 9am to 5pm. Alok Dash, a second-year undergraduate student of political science of the university, was the jockey for the day, said Subrat Panda, programme executive of Ravenshaw Radio. By watching live visuals on a television set inside the studio, Alok chanted slokas and sang hymns in praise of Lord Jagannath during the commentary. In between, traditional, devotional songs and bhajans of Salabega and Bhima Bhoi sung by celebrated singers like Nimai Harichandan, Akshaya Mohanty, Sikander Alam, Pranab Pattnaik, Balkrushna Dash, Bhikari Bal, Prafulla Kar was broadcasted. A recording of Geeta Govinda by classical singer, Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi, K.J. Yesudass and others was also aired on this occasion. Listeners within a radius of eight to 10 kilometres in and around Cuttack city were able to tune in to Ravenshaw Radio.

Collaboration

C.V. Raman College of Engineering (CVRCE), Bhubaneswar, inked a deal with Nova South Eastern University (NSU), USA, on June 23 in Miami. With this collaboration, CVRCE will start bachelors and masters programmes in coastal zone management, marine environment and biotechnology, and other courses in oceanography from the next academic session. As a part of this venture, the students would continue part of their study at CVRCE and the last two years in USA in a credit transfer system. On this occasion, president of NSU, George L. Hanbury expressed his desire to collaborate with CVRCE to establish an exclusive oceanographic centre at Chilika to offer various undergraduate, post graduate and research programmes in environment and oceanography science. The Orissa higher education team led by minister Debi Prasad Mishra last year has played a key role in the signing of this MoU, said official sources at CVRCE.

Dean honoured

Ratikanta Mishra, dean of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) in Bhubaneswar, was honoured by the Indian Solidarity Council (ISC) and the International Institute of Education and Management (IIEM) recently for his outstanding achievements in the field of education. At a function held in Delhi jointly by the two organisations, Mishra was presented with the Bharat Vidya Shiromani award instituted by the ISC. Former Assam and Tamil Nadu governor, Bhisma Narain Singh handed him the award. Former election commissioner, G.V.G. Krishnamurthy presented him the Rashtriya Vidya Gourav gold medal on behalf of IIEM. Mishra has taught at the V.S.S. University of Technology, Burla (Sambalpur), and IIT, Kharagpur. He was also the registrar of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) and its vice-chancellor for a brief period. He took over as dean of ITER a year ago.

KISS in Bastar

A branch of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), a tribal institute in Bhubaneswar, will be set up in Bastar, a tribal-dominated and Naxal-infested region of Chhattisgarh. The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), a Navratna public sector undertaking (PSU) of government of India, has provided assistance to KISS in this regard. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed between KISS founder, Achyuta Samanta and G.B. Joshi, director, NMDC, in Hyderabad on June 24. As per the agreement, NMDC has provided 30 acres of land along with all financial assistance to KISS to set up its replica in Kankar region of north Bastar district. In the first phase, 1,000 tribal boys and girls will be admitted in this school. The target is to reach out to 4,000 students from five districts in and around Bastar. Education and all facilities would be provided free of cost to the students. Development work for the school has already begun.

Shilpi Sampad