Odisha Guv recommends common entrance test for varsities

Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over that not a single state-run university featured among the top 100 list in India, newly appointed Odisha Governor and Chancellor of the universities Satya Pal Malik recommended a host of measures to improve the higher education system and uplift the rank of the varsities in the State.

The Governor said this while addressing the Vice Chancellors’ conference at Raj Bhawan here where VCs from 17 universities of Odisha participated.

During his address, Pal suggested implementation of biometric attendance system for both teachers and students, common entrance for all universities, setting up of sports complex, skill development and placement of students, timely conduct of examination, filling up of vacant teaching posts.

“All universities in the state must take initiatives to improve research and quality of education so that they can rank among the top 100 universities,” Pal told.

He also asked VCs to improve the industry-academia interface, use of technology in the curriculum and to sign MoUs with other universities to improve quality research.

Besides, the newly appointed Governor said students’ union elections must be conducted in all universities in order to give a platform to the future leaders.  “I am an output of students’ politics and there are several bright examples of political leaders who started their career from students’ union elections,” Pal said adding the university authorities must find a way how to conduct a violence free election in their institutions.

Pal, who is also the Governor of Bihar, said universities and higher education system in Odisha are far better than the neighbouring State. “Unlike Bihar where mafia raj rules the education system, exams are not conducted in fair means and academic calendar does not exist, there is no such problem in Odisha and universities in Odisha are doing far better than their counterparts in Bihar, the Governor pointed out.

The conference was also attended by four ministers including Higher Education minister Ananta Das, Finance Minister Sashibhushan Behera, Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Sports, Youth affairs and IT Minister ChandraSarathi Behera.

“We have discussed several measures to improve the rank of our universities in national and international level. Introduction of new syllabus and common entrance test for post-graduation admission are likely to be considered,” said Das.