Bijoy Kumar Nanda

Sambalpur, Nov. 20: Bijoy Kumar Nanda was named as vice-chancellor of the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) in Burla on Saturday.

Nanda, who becomes the second vice-chancellor of the university, is at present working as a professor in the department of mechanical engineering in the National Institute of technology, Rourkela.

He did his BTech from the Regional Engineering College (now National Institute of Technology) in Rourkela in 1977 and believes in rendering quality education.

Talking about his plans, Nanda, said: “Research and development will be my prime priority. My emphasis will be on more research and development work because such endeavours help bring industries to educational institutions.”

Speaking about vacant seats in several engineering colleges in Odisha, Nanda said: “There is competition among students to get into premier institutions. Seats in premiere institutions never lie vacant. It is the quality education which attracts not just the students but also potential employers.”

“The Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology is a premier institute in terms of quality education. And the placement in the institution is quite commendable. However, we will take special care for better placement of the students,” said the 58-year-old.

The other priority area on which he intends to concentrate is on industrial consultancy. “This will help students of the university to get placement in reputed firms,” said Nanda.

“Alumni have always helped the institution in taking it to greater heights. My priority will be to involve former students in the development of the university. Several former students of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology are placed in higher positions in different industries. We will try to involve them in the development of the University,” said Nanda.

Nanda completed his MTech from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, in 1979 and his PhD from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, in 1993.

Nanda who hails from Khadipada in Bhadrak district, has been working in the department of mechanical engineering since 1979. Nanda has done his PhD on “Study of damping in structural members in dynamic slit”. He completed his postdoctoral degree in 1993.

Professor Deb Kumar Tripathy was the first vice-chancellor of the tech university. The first vice-chancellor’s tenure ended on October 22.