Bhubaneswar, May 10: Utkal University is all set to hold own entrance tests and will no longer take students through the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) for its various self-financing courses.

Until last year, the university used to take students for three departments — integrated MBA, integrated MCA and masters in pharmacy — through OJEE.

The authorities have decided to go in for their own entrance tests to get better quality students. “OJEE is a broad-based entrance test and does not relate to specific subjects. It has been observed that students we get through OJEE are not of the expected quality,” said postgraduation council chairman P.K. Sarkar, adding that the varsity “has got its own goodwill and credibility and there is no need to get students from entrance tests conducted by some other body”.

“The department of commerce, which offers a programme in masters in finance and control, is holding its own entrance tests and they get better students,” he said.

The authorities said the OJEE officials did not send the required number of students, which results in seats remaining vacant. The OJEE did not take much interest in filling up seats in the varsity.

The entrance tests will include a written test and group discussions and the students’ past academic performances. “The weightage would be distributed in 40:40:20 ratio — marks in the entrance test, past career record and marks secured during group discussion, respectively,” said Sarkar.

“Questions will be framed by the controller of examinations. A team of experts and the chairman of PG council will be in the selection board. We are sure that 100 per cent of our seats in various courses will be filled up this time,” he said.