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| Students of Central University of Odisha in Koraput, present an acrobatic dance on a patriotic song during their annual event, Euphoria. Telegraph picture |
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| NIMBLE FEET A student performs Odissi using fire lamps as props during Euphoria, the annual event of Central University of Odisha, Koraput. Telegraph picture |
Central University of Odisha, Koraput, buzzed with activity as students bustled about enthusiastically, taking part in a range of activities at Euphoria, the annual event of the varsity, from February 24 to March 4. The celebrations began with cricket matches involving both students and staff members. This was followed by a string of competitions such as essay writing, debate, painting, dance and music. The cultural programme was the highlight of the nine-day festival. The students presented Odissi, modern dance and group songs while the audience, which included their classmates and family, swayed to the beats of popular chartbusters as well as tunes of Sambalpuri, Rajasthani and other folk music. Vice-chancellor professor Surabhi Banerjee gave away shields and medals to the champions of the Central University Premiere League cricket tournament. While Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication emerged champion, the runners-up trophy went to Centre for Sociological Studies. Banerjee also awarded the prizes to the winners of other competitions. She addressed the students saying that one must not ignore reason and logic in an euphoric state of mind, which tends to make us oblivious to pain, tension, anxiety and other negative energies. Pro vice-chancellor professor Y. Narsimhulu talked about the responsibility of students towards society and the nation while registrar professor A.K. Mishra advised them to fix a target and strive hard to achieve it.
Research boost
Thirteen students of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar, have been nominated for the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship. This is given for exceptional performance in the national-level online test conducted for university level for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students. The fellowship would support them to pursue Ph.D research work. They would receive a monthly amount of Rs 16,000 and Rs 18,000 for three years towards junior and senior fellowships, respectively. In addition, Rs 50,000 per year would be given to them as financial assistance. In all, 30 students from Odisha have secured this fellowship.
Science craze
Authorities of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, are upbeat over the success of DST Inspire, a science camp-cum-internship programme of the science and technology department, government of India. While more than 300 students from various junior colleges took part in the first two phases of the event in January and February, over 200 students are expected to turn up for the last leg of the camp, which starts on March 20. “This is the second time that Ravenshaw is hosting the camp, which aims to create a scientific temper among students,” said programme coordinator, P.K. Mohapatra. The main objective of the programme is to provide scholarships to students besides enhancing their skills in science and regular courses. It also aims to create awareness among students to grab opportunities in the field of natural sciences. In the second phase, 130 students attended the science camp at the varsity’s Heritage Hall on February 28. Technical lectures in the field of physical, chemical, biological, biotechnology, earth and environmental sciences were conducted.
Techie donors
Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), Bhubaneswar, set a record with 1,385 students donating blood at a camp of a private organisation on March 2. The organisers said it was a record collection of blood units in the state on a single day. Renowned flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia inaugurated the camp. Teams from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, Capital Hospital, Municipal Hospital and Sum Hospital of Bhubaneswar and Red Cross Blood Bank at Angul were engaged in the collection of blood. A total of 1,238 students had donated blood at a camp held at ITER by the same organisation in 2011.
Job opportunities
A meeting was held on the eve of the annual day celebration of the business department of Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, on Saturday. Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers Srikant Jena was the chief guest. Jena told students to become entrepreneurs instead of hankering after everyday jobs. Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra, chairman of Paradip Port Trust, who was also a guest on the occasion, said development in education was real development for any nation and competent students never stayed behind in the race for jobs.
