Bhubaneswar: Universities play a crucial role in shaping students into responsible citizens. Progressive thinking and humanistic ideologies often emerge from university environments. With the aim of granting autonomy to universities and advancing the higher education sector, the Odisha University (Amendment) Act 2024 has been enacted, said Higher Education Minister Surya Banshi Suraj.
Minister Suraj stated that the new amendment will help resolve the stagnation in faculty recruitment caused by various legal disputes, preserve academic culture, allow recruitment of teachers based on the needs of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and ensure inclusion of experienced academicians in university governance. Under the amended law, the university Senate will include at least 37 of its 68 members from the teaching and academic community, thereby promoting academic integrity.
Removal of Recruitment Bottlenecks and Engagement with Student Community
Following the enactment of the Odisha University (Amendment) Act 2024, a meeting was organized by the Higher Education Department on Tuesday with all vice-chancellors at the Syndicate Hall of Utkal University to discuss its implementation. Chaired by Minister Suraj, the meeting covered key aspects of the amendment.
The Minister said that with this new law, over 1,300 vacant teaching positions in universities across the state can be filled. Universities will be able to appoint teachers based on curriculum requirements, ensuring a streamlined and efficient recruitment process.
To strengthen institutional infrastructure, proposals include forming construction committees, establishing finance committees for financial management, and mandating that all university income and expenditure be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. These measures aim to empower university administration and ensure transparency.
Additionally, the Minister discussed the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in universities with the vice-chancellors. He stated that the NEP 2020, along with the Odisha University (Amendment) Act 2024, would bring revolutionary change to higher education and significantly strengthen the education system in Odisha.