Sambalpur, June 15: Sambalpur University has launched a new MTech programme in Geospatial Technology. The self-financing course will be run by the department of earth science from this academic session.

“Sambalpur University is the first institution in Orissa to provide this course. The students will have to clear four semesters in two years to obtain the MTech degree. They will have to pay Rs 20,000 for each semester of the course. This year, we will take only sixteen students,” said Ashutosh Naik, professor and head of the department of earth science.

“In earth science, the students are taught remote sensing. We have integrated some advanced modules of remote sensing and launched this MTech course. Apart from remote sensing, we would impart knowledge on global positioning system, digital elevation, and satellite data interpretation in this course so that the job prospects of the students are widened,” he said.

Engineering graduates, and other students, who have completed their masters in any science subject, are eligible for the course. The department will hold a written test as well as personal interviews to decide the list of successful candidates for admission.

“Some institutions outside Orissa also provide this course. But Sambalpur University is the first institution in the state to launch this course. Hence, we expect good response from students of the state. The last date for applying for admission in the course is June 16. We are, however, thinking of extending the last date for receiving application forms by at least seven days,” he said.

“The course will help students to look for jobs in organisations which are associated with remote sensing or space data. Besides, the central government is setting up a geographical information system with specialists in every district. After obtaining this degree, students will be eligible to apply for specialist’s post. Successful students can work on town planning and urban development, and even in software firms,” said Duryodhan Behera, assistant professor at the earth science department in Sambalpur University.

“We have a proposal to formalise memoranda of understanding with different organisations for better placement of our students,” he said.