Odisha’s premier institute OUTR to be upgraded at par with IIT

Bhubaneswar: Odisha University of Technology and Research (OUTR) here is all set to undergo a major makeover as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved a proposal of Rs 1500 crore to revamp the premier institution of technical education.

As part of the master plan, a whopping Rs 1500 crore will be spent in phased manner in the next three years for all-round development of the educational institution, starting from infrastructure to human resources. In the first year, Rs 1,000 will be spent for the purpose.

Official sources said OUTR, previously known as College of Engineering and Technology (CET), will be upgraded to the level of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and National Institute of Technology (NIT). While about 4,600 students are currently studying in the university, the move is likely to benefit about 10,000 students over the next five years.

At a review meeting held here today, the CM held discussion on infrastructure, management and teaching at the varsity. He called upon the authorities concerned to build the university as a leading educational institution in technical education and research.

Sources said the university will focus on quality education and introduction of new curriculum with advance technology.  Besides, more number of Centre of Excellence will be established to develop human resources and promote inter-departmental research works. This apart, incubation centres will be set up to spread startup culture and develop entrepreneurial competencies among IT students.

OUTR will work in association with universities across the world  for teaching and research, sources said.