Cuttack, Aug. 13: The mismatch between fast-paced economic growth and slow progress in academics came into focus at the fifth annual convocation of Ravenshaw University here today.

Speaking as the chief guest at the convocation, Padmanabhan Balaram, director of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, said the emphasis on research work in the universities had reduced.

The eminent scientist added that the fragmentation of these centres of education into specialised technical institutions had hastened the decay in research.

Elaborating on the academic scenario, Balaram, who received an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) degree on the occasion, said: “Our universities have fallen on difficult times, even as the country is transforming on many fronts. As the economy and industry seem to surge forward, our educational and research institutions show little signs of upward mobility.”

He said that the country had a “large number of national laboratories, well-funded and well-staffed, where there is research but no teaching”. The silver lining, however, was that the Indian Institutes of Technology and the recently created Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research were attempts to promote research activities, the scientist said. Ravenshaw vice-chancellor B.C. Tripathy admitted that the varsity was facing a shortage of teachers.

“We have urged the state government to sanction additional faculty positions in view of our plans to convert Ravenshaw into a Knowledge City,” Tripathy said.

The university authorities said there were plans to set up various schools of studies such as life sciences, material sciences, computer science, international studies, atmospheric and ocean sciences, among others.

Chief information commissioner Satyananda Mishra, Justice Deba Priya Mohapatra, former chairman of the Union Public Service Commission Purna Chandra Hota and scientist-cum-author Gokulananda Mohapatra, were also awarded honorary degrees.

Four others, including former Speaker Rabi Ray, freedom fighter and social reformer Baisnab Charan Patnaik, were not present to receive the honorary degrees.

Governor and chancellor of state universities M.C. Bhandare handed the degrees and also awarded gold medals to 56 toppers, including 42 girls, in various disciplines.

“It was a proud moment for me to receive the gold medal from our governor,” Kaikashna Begum, political science topper of 2012, said.