Posts filed under ‘VSSUT Burla’
State universities need more funds: Vice President of India
Following is a report by IANS taken from MSN:
Kolkata, Dec 20 (IANS) Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari Monday said that higher education cannot improve in India unless state universities are able to obtain more funds, create new infrastructure and enrich their existing academic programmes.
‘Higher education cannot improve in India unless state universities, which are the backbone and represent the bulk of enrolment, are able to obtain greater funds, create new infrastructure and enrich their existing academic programmes,’ Ansari said at the Foundation Day Lecture 2010 of the University of Calcutta.
Even though we have been able to achieve an economic growth rate of 9 percent of the GDP despite low enrolment in higher education, it would not be possible for us to sustain such an economic growth, maintain our competitiveness and enhance our productivity without at least doubling our higher education enrolment, he said.
‘We must create avenues for vocational education so that entering universities does not become a default choice for the sake of employment,’ said Ansari.
Year-old VSSUT eyes status of Innovative University: The Pioneer
Following is a report from The Pioneer:
The Vir Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) formed by up-gradation of the University College of Engineering (UCE) at Burla completed a year this month with Prof Deba Kumar Tripathy as the first Vice-Chancellor.
“It (VSSUT) has made record achievements during this short span. It also plans to go ahead and reach the peak to see itself at par with all other developed technical institutions of the country and abroad,” said Prof Tripathy at a media conference in the university campus.
The V-C said the university, being entrusted by the Department of Industries, conducted the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) 2010 this year very successfully for students’ admission into medical, engineering and many other technical courses through e-counselling. Formation of a finance committee and a board of management, filling up of the vacancies in teaching posts and appointment of deans, Registrar and Controller of Finance are the other achievements, he said.
The university also held its first convocation for the pass-out batch of students for the year 2009. “Smooth conduct of different examinations and publication of results in one month’s time is nothing but a record in the State,” Prof Tripathy claimed. As many as 305 students have been recruited in various reputed institutions and industries during 2009-10 through campus interviews, he pointed out.
The V-C further said the university has introduced new programmes like Electrical and Electronics Engineering, MTech in Computational Math and MSc in Applied Physics and Industrial Chemistry. It has also enhanced the intake capacity to various programmes keeping in view the growing demands from students.
Prof Tripathy informed that the State Government has sought a proposal from the VSSUT for converting it into an Innovative University. The Centre Government wants to convert 20 technical institutions in the country into such universities. The VSSUT can stake its claim for this as it fulfils most of the criteria.
“The Centre Government will spend `4,600 crore to upgrade 20 institutions to Innovative Universities,” the V-C further informed. Instead of establishing new universities, the Government will rather improve the old ones, he added.
State universities of India need to have greater freedom: Kapil Sibal
Following is a report from http://economictimes.indiatimes.com:
How will innovation universities change higher education?
We have not adopted a top-down approach, ours is a bottom-up one. So far we have spoken of inclusive agenda of development, we are now thinking in terms of an inclusive education agenda. The idea is to empower institutions at the base of the pyramid. State universities are the foundation of higher education segment. State universities need to have greater freedom so confirm to realities of 21st century. The Centre is willing to give a helping hand.
Is that all required to improve institutions?
There is proposal to help state universities, which make up bulk of higher education segment. The Centre can help by giving more funds to strengthen these universities. This would help build infrastructure and quality. But state governments need to step up and provide policy framework. This framework will give universities more freedom. UGC can make grants beyond what it already does. But state governments must allow for more freedom so that state universities can transform themselves.
Are state only expected to provide for a more liberal policy framework?
Over the years, the Centre’s share of expenditure in public education has increased, while states’ share has come down. This mismatch should be corrected.
Many institutions suggest quality can be improved with freedom in admissions policy…
There should be democracy. An institution should have the right to decide on what basis it wants to admit students. At the same time there should not be unnecessary pressure on students. So some institutes can decide to admit on the basis of Class XII results — on the basis of merit. While other institutes could admit on the basis of the national aptitude test, or look at the aptitude test as an add on. There is also the option of add on subject tests. So the class XII results determine subject knowledge, aptitude tests will assess raw intelligence, and add on tests will assess special knowledge.
So each institute can determine the basis on which they admit, rather than doing so through individual entrance tests. The idea is to reduce tests, while still giving each institute the freedom to admit students that fit in with the specific focus of the institute. Let me give an example, what is the difference between Yale and Harvard law Schools. Yale is focused on research while Harvard is more business minded, so corporate law is a focus. So in their admissions policy they would show a preference for those who fit in to their respective focus areas.
Will this make the education system more inclusive?
Right now we have entrance exams to exclude students, to keep some people out. I want to reduce stress for students, but also exclude exclusion. If we were a more mature system, I would say that interviews would be the final basis of deciding who gets admitted and who doesn’t. But we are not mature enough. Allowing for discretion would not help. So I want to put in place a system that doesn’t give space for discretion.
Vir Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) results declared in record time
Following is a report from The Pioneer:
The Vir Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) declared the results of all its semesters for the year 2010 on Sunday, just 17 days after completion of the examinations, claimed to be the quickest time for any technical university across the country. The results are also available on http://www.vssut.ac.in, the university’s website.
Vice-Chancellor Deba Kumar Tripathy thanked all the teachers for their sincere efforts in making this feasible and said this would help the students, especially the final year students, continue their future plans and pursue higher studies.
It is a matter of pride for the teachers and the students of the VSSUT since the Vice-Chancellor, who also was the Odisha-JEE chairman for this year, proved the worth of the Unitary University status given to this college in the recent past and also stood up to its expectations of conducting the JEE as well its own exams as smoothly as it could have been, admitted the students. It is a fact that the VSSUT conducted its all end-semester exams and published its results before the BPUT exams.
While Supriya Mohanty of Civil Engineering was declared as the university topper, the other toppers are Khusbu Patwari in Computer Science and Engineering, N Seetharaman in Electronics and Telecommunication, Arjun Patra in Electrical Engineering, Supriya Baitharu in Information Technology, Dilip Kumar Das Mahapatra in Mechanical Engineering, Pramod Kumar Jena in Manufacturing Science and Engineering and Tushar Ranjan Patra in MCA.
Prof Tripathy assumes charge as Biju Patnaik University of Technology’s VC
Following is a report from The Pioneer:
Professor Deba Kumar Tripathy has taken over as the Vice-Chancellor of the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) from Professor Omkar Nath Mohanty with effect form Monday. Prof Tripathy, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, will be the acting Vice-Chancellor of the BPUT till a regular incumbent takes over.
Tripathy has vast experience in administration of educational institutions. Before moving to the VSSUT, he had earned laurels as the Director of the well-known National Institute of Technology at Warrangal. He also discharged with efficiency the responsibilities of the Dean of Students Affairs at the IIT Kharagpur, Senate member of the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela and Jamshedpur and Syndicate member of the North Odisha University, Baripada. He has also worked as the head of many prominent bodies like the Institute of Engineers, Kharagpur.
He has a rich teaching experience which includes six months at the North London Polytechnic, 25 years at the IIT, Kharagpur and 13 years at the NIT, Rourkela. He completed his Mechanical Engineering course in 1968 from NIT Rourkela, MTech from IIT, Kharagpur in Production Science and Technology and PhD in Extrusion Forming from IIT, Kharagpur. He is an acknowledged expert in all aspects of rubber engineering. He has many fellowships and more than a hundred research papers published in national and international journals to his credit.
Tripathy is also the chairman of the committee conducting Joint Entrance Examination in Odisha in 2010.
Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) to Conduct Orissa JEE 2010
This information is taken from the VSSUT alumni page:
Dear Alumni,
All of you will be happy to learn that Govt. of Orissa entrusts the responsibility of conducting Orissa JEE – 2010 to our alma-mater VSSUT.………
VC aims to make the VSSUT a global institution
Following is a report from Tathya.in
Professor Deba Kumar Tripathy is dreaming to make the Vira Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), a global institution.
And the Vice Chancellor of VSSUT strongly feels that the institution has the potential to be a global player. So he opened his cards on 21 October here in front of the students, who echoed their VC in a big way.
He said “i am amazed at the way you students correlating with me and it is by this mutual co-operation we can improve things in my 2 years tenure.”
His words were really encouraging and showed us the glimpse of the bright future we can have, said a student. Lastly VC said “lets work together to bring the lost glory of UCE back and make the most of it to make its image global.” Students shared their views, opinions, problems etc with Prof. Tripathy.
Some of the final year students draw attention to some of the very crucial points.
The points of concern were as follows :
Acquisition of the land surrounding VSSUT campus , cleared by the Water Resource Dept. at the earliest. Improvement of the basic infrastructural requirements like well furnished classrooms & laboratories, electricity , drinking facility, proper transport facilities etc . Appointment of adequate faculty members and laboratory assistants and filling up the vacant senior faculty posts in all departments was requested. Complete renovation of the Central Library Facility with computerization and issuing at least a few international journals.
Establishing another fully equipped Seminar hall with higher capacity. Renovation of the AVC with Integrated Light & Sound System
Proper maintenance of the college website with a student database and log in facility availing internet facility throughout the campus with 24X7 service was asked for. There are also some of the issues which students think can be improved upon like developing a Students’ Activities Center (SAC) like in IITs comprising of all student activities.
Encouraging inter college participation in various events.Opening a night canteen in the campus and development of the hostel and mess facilities, was demanded. ATM & Bank Extension in campus was also requested.
VC said all these aspects have been included in the Development Plan of the Varsity.
Prof.Tripathy said that our Alumni Association has always extended their valuable and timely support which is remarkable.
They have to play a major role in turning UCE to VSSUT on global map, said the VC.
VSSUT to introduce textile engineering soon
Following message was posted inVSSUT Alumni association web site:
Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology is planning to introduce textile engineering in the institution to strengthen and study of the world famous Sambalpuri fabric. This was disclosed by the vice chancellor of the university Dr. Deb Kumar Tripathy in an exclusive interview with TOI on Friday. Dr. Tripathy joined as the first vice-chancellor of the university on Thursday.
“Burla engineering college is considered to be the oldest engineering college of the state but it remains in the sideline because of the various reasons. Thanks to CM Naveen Patnaik for giving University status to the institution. Our priority will be to make the institution as one of the best of the country and for this we are planning to introduce few new branches of engineering courses. Textile engineering is one among them which will help to strengthen the development of the Sambalpuri fabric. We also plan to introduce Nano-science technology, Bio-medical engineering and surgical engineering soon”, the vice chancellor Dr Tripathy told.
According to him, several modification and changes are to be taken place in the infrastructure of the institution once it becomes university. But since it requires lot of expenditure we want to change it in phase manner. “I am meeting the industry secretary soon to place our immediate requirement. I am hopeful the government would give proper attention to solve the problem of the institution. We have shortage of faculty members. About 44 new faculty members are required immediately. So we advertise this in our website and soon we are able to fill up the posts”, Dr. Tripathy told.
Kosal Discussion and Development Forum 