Report by OD bureau; Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Sri Bijay Kumar Patnaik has  advised to Govt Engineering Colleges and Technical Universities to keep industry interface in their regular academic activities both theoretical and practical so that students are kept updated about application of innovative technologies.

Patnaik has given this advice while reviewing the activities and progress of these institutions in a high level meeting held today in secretariat conference hall. The Directors and Principals of theses institutions have been advised to be in constant touch with local industries, know their requirement and train the students accordingly with latest equipments and increase their employability.

Review shows at present 6 Govt technical  institutions are operating in the state with regular intake capacity  of 1460 per year. Theses institutes are CET , Bhubaneswar with 210 regular  intake capacity, IGIT , Saranga with 180 intake  capacity, VSSUT , Burla with 300 capacity, PMEC, Berhampur with 240 capacity,  GEC Kalahandi with 240 seats and OSME ( Degree) with 290 seats. Besides, in self financing courses CET has 180  IGIT Saranga has 150 and VSSUT, Burla has 160 yearly intake capacity.

In taking forward earlier decisions of Govt, Chief Secretary has directed to expedite steps for enhancing the intake capacity of theses institutions to 2090 in coming years. Chief Secretary has also asked them to increase Post Graduate Teaching and Research Activities. All these institutions have also been asked to intensify Alumina Net Work at the level of their respective institutions for boosting up placement activities. Chief Secretary  Sri Patnaik has also advised them to involve students in placement cells. The proposal for having centralized exam for P.G. Courses was also discussed in the meeting.

The issues relating to additional requirement of infrastructure were also discussed in the meeting and  it was  decided that the infrastructure base of theses institutions will be enhanced by additions of new class rooms, libraries, hostels for both the boys and girls. It has been decided to have 1 new Teaching Block, 1 Library Building, 1 Boys Hostel and One Girls Hostel in CET, Bhubaneswar. VSSUT , Burla and IGIT Saranga will have similar facilities. As per first hand estimates it has been decided that around Rs15 Cr will be provided to  each of theses institutions for enhancing infrastructural base and modernizing the equipments in laboratories. Chief Secretary Sri Patnaik has directed the college authorities to modernize their laboratories in one go. The technical collges and universities have been given clearance to fill up the vacant teaching posts and ensure qualitative teaching learning activities inside the campuses.

The Development Commissioner Sri R.N.senapati, Pr Secretary Finance Sri J.K.Mohapatra, Secretary E&TE Dr.C.S.Kumar along with other senior officials participated in discussions.