Bhubaneswar, April 9: Students of Utkal University of Culture are excited as the annual convocation of the varsity will be held after a gap of three years tomorrow.

Eminent academic and vice-chancellor of Delhi University Dinesh Singh will deliver the convocation address.

However, the university's plan to conduct the convocation on its new campus at Madanpur near Jatni could not materialise. After months of delay, the authorities have rescheduled its plan to shift to the new campus at Madanpur before Nabakalebar (the change of idol ceremony of the Holy Trinity).

"Around 90 per cent work is over. Minor things such as beautification on the campus and other cosmetic works are left. We will start holding classes on the new campus with the blessings of Lord Jagannath," said vice-chancellor of the varsity Debendranath Jena.

President Pranab Mukherjee, during his visit to the state in last November, was supposed to inaugurate the campus. But, that did not work out, as the construction was not over.

"We would invite the President again to inaugurate the campus," said Jena.

Degrees for four academic sessions - 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 - will be conferred at a time at the ceremony that would be held at Rabindra Mandap in the city. Around 87 students will be given gold medals, and 11 PhD degrees will be awarded. These apart, six doctorate degrees will also be conferred.

The authorities have prepared a blueprint to ensure quality education and better facilities to the students.

"We will focus on fulfilling the vacant seats. The number of students are increasing, and accordingly, the faculty members should also improve themselves, so that every student receives proper knowledge," said Jena.

At present, out of the 19 sanctioned posts, seven are lying vacant.

Plans are also on to set up a department for Odia language.

"The language has already received the classical status, and it is time we involved the students in enriching the language. We are planning to give Odia a separate entity in the varsity, so that more students take it up as a subject of study and research," said the vice-chancellor.

The Utkal University of Culture was established in 1999 to preserve, promote, propagate and protect the cultural richness of the state.