Bhubaneswar: The Utkal University of Culture is struggling with space crunch to expand its academic facilities.

The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) which is entrusted with the construction project is yet to handover five academic blocks.

"We are constrained to run classes in the administrative building and hostel rooms. Once the space problem is solved, we would start our new teaching programmes," said the vice chancellor of the varsity Kamal Kant Misra.

Mishra was speaking during the sixth convocation ceremony of the varsity on Wednesday.

A research chair in the name of poet Upendra Bhanja and a research centre on tribal art and culture will start once the problem of space is solved.

Meanwhile, 16 teachers will soon be recruited at various departments. The varsity is collaborating with the Odisha Society of Americans, Korean Artists for India, Universities of Campinas and Alagoas for various activities of mutual academic and professional interest. Around 27 students were awarded with gold medals and three got their PhD degrees.

Five eminent persons were conferred with honorary doctorate for their contribution to various fields.

Playwright-director Sachidanand Das, researcher-litterateur Asit Kumar Mohanty, tabla player Harmohan Khuntia and filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda, besides santoor player Pandit Bhajan Sopori received the honours.