Bhubaneswar, Feb. 16: Utkal University plans to sign an agreement with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, for opening an outreach centre of the institute here to spread technological advancement at villages near its campus.
“The centre will train the rural people on how to use latest technologies in drinking water, soil testing, tissue culture, food processing and bio remediation of waste,” said varsity vice-chancellor Asoka Kumar Das, while speaking at the university’s 47th convocation here today.
Some 250 students received their PhD degrees, while 115 students received gold medals at the convocation for their excellence in various spheres.
Honorary doctorate degrees were conferred on Justice Basudev Panigrahi, who probed the ethno-communal riots in Kandhamal in 2007, America-based economist Prasanta Pattanaik, Nalco chief managing director Tapan Chand and biochemist Nimai Charan Panda on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, governor S.C. Jamir said: “More than 250 scholars were awarded PhD degrees today. However, I am saddened that when it comes to the quality and relevance of our research work, we are falling behind, particularly in the fast-moving new fields. Our research and innovation programmes should promote both excellence and impact. To stay ahead, I would like the universities to specialise in a few fields, where they have the potential to excel.”
SC Jamir at Utkal University on Tuesday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee
Das admitted that the varsity continued to struggle with lacunas, such as inadequate non-teaching staff and absence of a student canteen and convention centre. “We have not been abele to find a sustainable mechanism for campus maintenance. We also need to gear up student placement activities and update the governance system. We also plan to shortly institute an exercise for developing a long-term institutional development plan of the university by involving all stakeholders,” he said.
A new and updated website of the varsity was launched. It also adopted a composition of Pandit Godavarish Mishra as its theme song.
In another development chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the arts block and Raman science block at the BJB College and a hostel for Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalay students. The Raman science block and the new arts block will facilitate separation of the junior and degree colleges.
