Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 3:

Odisha’s premier Utkal University has been awarded A+ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with 3.53 CGPA.

utkal-university

The Bhubaneswar based university, which is also the oldest in the state, is the first and only university in the state to have the prestigious accreditation, according to reports.

“This is the first university in Odisha to have received NAAC A+ grade. This has brought us new responsibilities. We have to now prove that we deserve it,” said PG Council chairman Ranjal Bal.

An eight-member team of NAAC, led by Bharathidasan University’s former Vice Chancellor (VC) C Thangamuthu, was in the university between November 17 to 19 to examine several aspects such as curriculum, teaching, evaluation, research, infrastructure, innovative practices, staff strength and extra co-curricular activities being undertaken in the university leading up to the grading.

The NAAC grade of ‘B’ that Utkal University had secured way back in 2003 expired eight years back and renewal was pending.

Apart from Utkal University, two of Bhubaneswar based colleges: BJB Autonomous College and the Rajadhani College have also received Grade A+ by NAAC.

Another three-member NAAC Team led by Baba Saheb Ambedkar Open University’s former VC AK Singh visited BJB and rajdhani colleges between November 10 and 12 and have given BJB Autonomous College and the Rajdhani College with 3.19 CGPA and 3.01 CGPA respectively.

Other colleges of the state that have been graded by NAAC status are: Agarpada College (B), Dhenkanal Women’s College (B+), DK College (B), Rangadhipa Govt College (B+), Puri Govt Women’s College (B), Patnagarh Jawaharlal College (B), Kharasrota Mahavidyalaya (C), Laxminarayan Sahoo Mahavidyalaya (B), Larambha College (B++), Marshaghai College (B+), Mohan Subuddhi College (B+), Rourkela Municipality College (B+), Narasinghapur College (B), Parajanga Mahavidyalaya (B), Sailendra Narayan Collge (B++), Sonepur College (B), Srushti Academy (A), Swami Vivekananda Memorial College (B++) and Upendra Nath Sarada Mahavidyalaya (B).