The State Government on Wednesday decided to engage 30 academic consultants to implement various aspects of equity and excellence in the Government programmes such as digitisation of higher education institutions, running the research incentivisation scheme, NAAC accreditation schemes, new curricular and strengthening and mentoring the new centres of excellence in universities.
These consultants will be subject or domain experts and will be retired Associate Professors and above rank. Selection of consultants will be made by the council through a properly constituted committee.
The Higher Education Council (OSHEC) has been created by the mandate of RUSA and on the policies laid down by the National Policy on Education. The OSHEC has been constantly involved in improving and implementing quality education in colleges and universities of the State.
As per the Odisha State Higher Education Council Act, 2017, the Minister, Higher Education is the Chairman and former Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University Prof Asoka Kumar Das is the Vice-Chairperson of the council.
Further, the Government has nominated 13 members of eminence from different fields to advise the council in implementing various aspects of equity and excellence programmes of the Government. The members are Vice-Chancellors of Utkal University, Sambalpur University, Brahmapur University, Principals, Prananath (Autonomous) College, Khurda, Fakir Mohan (Autonomous)College, Baleswar, Director, Institute of Life Sciences, Dr Kishor Kumar Basa, former Professor of Anthropology, Prof BC Choudhury, former Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India, Dr AB Ota, Director, SCSTRTI, Ramesh Mahapatra, CMD, Magnum Group of Companies, Dr Subasini Pattnaik, former Professor of Zoology, Brahmapur University, Dibakar Swain, former General Manager, Paradeep Phosphates Limited and Dr Roshanara Begum, former Director, Vocational Education.
The aim of the formation of the council is to coordinate and maintain standards and promote higher education and research at +3 and post graduate levels. This will further promote the autonomy of higher education institutions for the free pursuit of knowledge and innovation, and for facilitating access, inclusion and opportunities for all and providing comprehensive and holistic growth of higher education and research in a competitive global environment through reforms and renovation and to provide for an advisory mechanism by eminent peers in academia.