Odisha HRD

Samaja letter to the editor on two central universities for Orissa

November 15th, 2007

Admission to Ph.D program at the SOA University in Bhubaneswar: Ad in Samaja

128 comments November 11th, 2007

State’s first horticulture college in Chipilima near Sambalpur: Sambada

November 10th, 2007

OUAT Profs would like to upgrade their Department of Forestry to a College of Forestry

Following is an excerpt from a New Indian Express report on this.

There is an urgent need to upgrade the forestry department to a college like the College of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Science and the postgraduate and Ph.D curricula could support the academics, research and extension programmes of various new disciplines in forestry.

‘‘There is a competent faculty with over 20 years of experience here with the department and many alumni members are serving at national and international levels as faculty and subject experts and are willing to collaborate with their parent department at OUAT for high-end projects,’’ says HoD Prof RK Pattnaik.

‘‘The department was established in 1987 at this second oldest agriculture varsity of the country following the recommendations of National Commission on Agriculture, 1976, under the direct support of Indian Council of Agricultural Research and later Indian Council of Forest Research and Education to look after education, research and extension in forestry science,’’ he adds.

‘‘But with the upgradation to a college the students can have special fields to do PG and Ph.D programmes in silviculture and agro-forestry, bio-technology and tree improvement and forest ecology and environment. Also utilisation of forest products which directly cater to the needs of the State as well as many international research projects can also be taken up through such an institution,’’ says Prof Ashok Kumar Sahoo.

Assistant Prof. Nirakar Bhol is of the opinion that if the upgraded status is accorded, then this college under OUAT would be a unique institution in the entire Eastern India and strengthen the position of the State Capital as another educational hub in forest-related research. Fourth year BSc Forestry student Jagannath Sahu thinks the upgradation plan can enable graduating B.Sc forestry students to have wider career options in natural resources management.

November 8th, 2007

IcfaiTech advertises for faculty positions in Samaja

November 7th, 2007

IMMT (formerly RRL) two day program on youth for leadership in Science

October 26th, 2007

Radhanatha Institute of Advanced Study in Education to become part of Ravenshaw University? : Samaja

Samaja writes about the plan to shift the Radhanatha Institute of Advanced Study in Education to Ravenshaw University campus. (Note: The site http://www.nuepa.org/libdoc/addresses/iase.pdf lists other institutes of advanced study in education in India. Its a old list though as it does not list the other IASEs in Orissa. See https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=238.)

October 25th, 2007

AIIMS clones in Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Raipur, Patna, Rishikesh and Jodhpur: Tender watch

Latest from http://www.mohfw.nic.in/tenders.html:

• http://www.mohfw.nic.in/EoI_FOR_PC.htm. (EOI for project consultants – August 2007)
• Space Requirement for Six AIIMS Institutes
• Query and addendum of Design DPR for 6 AIIMS like Institutes
• Query and their reply with addendum of EPC Developer for 6 AIIMS like Institutes

Some earlier documents:

• RFP for EPC contractor for Housing Complex for Six AIIMS like Institutes
  • Volume 1 (a) Notice Inviting Bid (b)Instructions to Bidders (c) Terms of Reference (d) Evaluation Process and criteria.
  • Volume 2 (a)Conditions of contract.
  • Volume 3 (a) Client’s Requirement (b) Surveyed Site Plan (available with HLL)
• RFP for Design DPR Consultants for Six AIIMS like Institutes
  • Volume 1 (a) Notice Inviting Bid (b) Instructions to Bidders (c) Terms of Reference (d) Evaluation Process and criteria.
  • Volume 2 (a) Conditions of contract.
  • Volume 3 (a) Client’s Requirement (b) Surveyed Site Plan (available with HLL) (c) Geotechnical investigation report (available with HLL) (d) Zoning Plan. (available with HLL)
• Addendum / Clarification for EOI for design consultancy for 6 AIIMS like Institutes

Even earlier documents: (Reported in https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=93)

• EOI for providing comprehensive consultancy for 6 AIIMS like institutions (February 2007)
• EOI for setting up housing complexes at Bhubaneswar, …(February 2007)

Much earlier: (Reported in https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=79 )

• RFP for providing Consultancy Services for setting up 6 AIIMS like Apex Healthcare institutes
• Issue of RFP for Architectural Competition for six AIIMS under PMSSY Project (Drawing 1/Drawing 2/Drawing 3/RFP Document/Architects’ Brief) / Reply to Bidders’ Query / Amendment to RFP)

1 comment October 20th, 2007

Business India B-School ranking

The following is from http://www.mbauniverse.com/innerPage.php?id=ne&pageId=660. 

78 comments October 20th, 2007

RSP expansion and adoption of ITIs in Sundergarh district by RSP

Following is from http://rc.orissa.gov.in/index3.asp?linkid=30&sublinkid=232.

Shri S.K.Roongta, Chairman, SAIL along with Shri B.N.Singh, M.D. Rourkela Steel Plant called on the Chief Minister at Orissa Bhawan. They briefed the Chief Minister about the expansion plans of Rourkela Steel Plant.  He intimated that it has been decided to increase the capacity of Rourkela Steel Plant from 2.1 million tonnes to 4.5 million tones hot metal with an approximate investment of Rs 10,000 Crore. He agreed to the suggestion of the Chief Minister to adopt the existing ITIs of the Sundergarh District and also launch Mobile Medical Vans for each block of the Sundargarh District to deal with the common medical ailments like Malaria. Chief Minister also asked the Chairman, SAIL to take up afforestation in the periphery area of the RSP in a big way.

October 18th, 2007

CM meets union minister of Science and Technology for a Biotechnology incubation center

Following is from the press release at http://rc.orissa.gov.in/index3.asp?linkid=30&sublinkid=232.

Chief Minister then, met the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal. He requested him for immediate sanction of a Biotechnology Incubation Centre (BTIC) at the Biotech Pharma IT Park proposed at Bhubaneswar. The Incubator, which will be part of the Biotechnology Park, will nurture innovative ideas into successful business ventures. It will enable the Park, to get essential facilities like state-of-the-art laboratories, equipment, training centre etc., for which the State Government has already provided 65 acres of prime land at Bhubaneswar. Shri Sibal agreed in-principle for opening of a Biotechnology Incubation Centre (BTIC) at Bhubaneswar and said that the Biotechnology sector in Orissa needs a boost. The Chief Minister further requested the Union Minister to sanction new Post Graduate course in Marine Biotechnology for Berhampur University and Fakir Mohan University, Balasore respectively, to which the Union Minister readily agreed to. In view of the economic potential of the Biotechnology sector and corresponding requirement of trained manpower, Orissa would be greatly benefited by opening up of these new courses.

October 18th, 2007

NISER ad for teaching assistant in Biology

The following is from http://www.iopb.res.in/niser/NISER-Advt16-10-07.pdf.

National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) is looking for bright young people as teaching assistants in biology to help in teaching and carryout supervised research. The candidates are also expected to maintain laboratory and mentor undergraduate students. There will be opportunity to register for Ph.D. degree for those who perform exceptionally. The maximum duration of the position is five years subject to yearly evaluation. The candidates must have a 1^st Class M.Sc./M.Phil. degree.

The interested candidates may send an application in plain paper with their ’Resume’ along with two letters of reference from their former teachers/supervisors and a statement of career goal to Director, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar-751 005. 

2 comments October 17th, 2007

UCE Burla team’s meeting with the CM and others: a first person report

Following is a first person report from one of the person who was present at the UCE Burla team’s meeting with the CM and others. (After the report, I will have a short analysis.)

It is Chak De hours for us, friends !

First, my thanks to the students who stood up to the task and continued their zero-incident strike for 12 days; they deserve huge ovation.
Second, thanks to CM who found time for us. Let me put in short what happened yesterday in CM’s meeting yesterday.

Govt had lined up Industry Minister Mr Harichandan, Industry Secretary Mr Dalwai, CM’s principal secretary, VC of BPUT and two more gentlemen. We had six students, Principal Dr Sanyal, Dr CR Tripathy and yours faithfully me.

Students first narrated what made them to go for strike. CM asked Industry Secy to respond. Secy said – (a) Society Registration file is with Finance Dept, Finance Minister will sign it tomorrow (16 Oct), then Industry Secy & minister. It is a matter of two or three days’s procedural time. But no hurdles, clearly. (b) BPUT Act shall be amended to disengage UCE from BPUT. It is none of our botheration. UCE will   straightway go ahead to register as society.  Industry Dept shall initiate a resolution in next Assembly. CM interjected to say it comes next month, in November. (c) CM said Govt will pursue the matter with UGC to ensure that we become Deemed University within 3 to 4 months. (but I personally believe it is an inadvertant over-statement by CM as state govt will not have any say in UGC except recommending. college authorities and we alumni have to pursue with UGC ourselves).

After students finished, I made few appeals on behalf of alumni. (a) Being the one and only college from Orissa which has potential to be put
into the league of quality colleges like Bengal Engg College, Jadavpur Univ, Osmania Univ, BHU, BIT or Anna University, state govt needs to go an extra mile beyond just conferring Deemed Univ status. CM nodded. (b) Only infrastructure added after it was built 50 years back by Hirakud Dam Project are a new library and an auditorium. Not only the 50-years-old college needs massive renovation, it also badly needs many more modern infrastructures. CM may plz depute high-level officials along with the Chief Architect of Orissa to campus who will assess the infrastructure, submit a master plan to CM based on which funds could be released over three/four years. CM nodded, asked his Secy to note it. (c) If UCE has to expand, which it will, it neds more land. Before encroached unauthorised by people, Govt may direct the local administration to transfer 300 acres available adjacent to UCE. CM said "he will look into this"  (d) Alumni are rock-solid behind UCE. Alumni have built a Gate and are building an e_Learning Centre. I showed him the photos from the farther corner of the distance. CM asked me to come to him with the photos and had a long close look at both the structures. Jubilee Gate resembles  India Gate, he commented. Said, he is happy that alumni are committed to the alma mater. Meeting ended. All for nearly 30 minutes. Students declared, they had called off the strike.

Later, Secy said CM kept a delegate of investors waiting as he wanted this meeting with UCE first. Some or other in Orissa go on strike everyday, but are rarely invited by CM for a meeting. Govt wants UCE to grow, he said. It seemed so.

How much of the committments shall be kept is to be seen. But, I believe Govt can not go back what they said so emphatically. one thing is sure, we have succeeded to move the wheel. It should move on from now. But, we cannot and will not rest before UCE is indeed conferred "Deemed University" and then an "IIT or IIEST".

One of UCE’s … well-wisher …, Prof Chitta Baral of Arizona University had advised us to demand for "State University" like BESU or Ravenshaw. But, we were cautioned by Industry Secy not to talk of State Univ or IIT in the meeting and we did not. And, rightly so. Thanks to Dr Baral for his passion for UCE.

All the local news papers today have carried the News on front page. It is Chak De UCE, finally.

A proud UCEian.

My Comments:

This is a  good start. Congratulations! I am hopeful that with the CM’s efforts UCE will get the "deemed university" tag quickly. But as mentioned above, it is not enough to be a deemed university. Being a deemed university does not guarantee adequate funding. So everyone must be ready to go to the next step; assuring good funding for UCE Burla. Unlike what is reported in Sambada, NIT Rourkela’s funding did not increase because it became a deemed university. It increased because central government took it over. There are many ways to ensure UCE Burla gets adequate funding. One way is to get the "funded by UGC" tag and become eligible to get UGC funds. Another way is to  get taken over by the central government and/or become an NIT, IIEST or IIT. Another way is to push the state government and Orissa industries to fund UCE Burla at a higher level. Yet another way is to get commitment from industries such as MCL regarding funding some UCE departments.

4 comments October 17th, 2007

Samaja Ads: M.Tech in CV Raman and College of Engineering Bhubaneswar (CEB)

9 comments October 13th, 2007

More on the upcoming Sai International School

Following are excerpts from a New Indian Express report.

… SAI International School, the first corporate- style institute of the State. Every classroom will be equipped with computers with broadband connectivity and big display units. Specially crafted education management software will give parents an opportunity to monitor the progress of their wards through the Internet. All in all think of the Eton College and you get all its good attributes here. The school is being set up by the JSS Group close to Infocity here.

Classes will commence next academic session, from creche to class VII. It would be extended up to class XII later. The school will follow CBSE curriculum, however, with a blend of both US and British syllabuses. Renowned UK-based LaurelsGlobal institute will be closely collaborating with SAI International School on the academic front.

Sources said, the school has forged an understanding with well-known institutions of similar stature across the country for seamless migration of students.

Incorporation of best of the international curriculum would also help students coming from abroad integrate with the courses here with ease. But the school will not have residential facilities.

Adhering to the Yashpal Committee recommendations, the management has decided to do away with school bags up to class III. Lockers will be provided to all students. Classroom teaching will be uploaded to interactive website and parents can have access to real time teaching.

… The promoters said, the location, plus the international feel, would meet one of the key demands of the IT workforce here for such a school in the city.

"In the event of them shifting abroad, their wards would have little trouble adjusting to the new atmosphere," they underlined.

The tuition fee would also be within the reach of Government employees and parents engaged in other sectors, they claimed.

Comprehensive health check-up of all the students would be carried out for which the school has forged tieups with corporate hospitals here.

Health report will be sent to parents every quarter along with other reports. The menu has been designed by dietary consultant of Australia.

29 comments October 13th, 2007

Apeejay Surrendra Group interested in setting up a research and design centre and a Knowledge Park in Bhubaneswar

Following is an excerpt from a Kalinga Times report on this.

The Apeejay Surrendra Group has also expressed its willingness to set up a research and design centre and a Knowledge Park at Bhubaneswar, the government said.

The Knowledge Park would have a school as well as higher education on subjects such as business management, hotel management, fashion designing, food technology, and nutrition science and nautical science.

October 12th, 2007