The Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of 17 State-run universities attended the annual Vice-Chancellors’ Conference at the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday.
Issues relating to teaching, teacher appointment, timely conduct of examinations, distribution of certificates and setting of sports complexes were discussed at the conference that was presided over by Chancellor of Universities and Governor Satyapal Malik.
Malik suggested that universities have a common entrance test for PG courses and instal biometric systems to keep an eye on the attendance of the teachers and the students. He also extended his support for holding student elections in the institutions.
Issues relating to research activities and development of centres of excellence were also on the agenda of the conference.
Higher Education Minister Ananta Das, Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera, Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Sports, Electronics and IT Minister, Chandra Sarathi Behera were present besides VCs and Directors of International Institute of Information Technology, Bhubaneswar and Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR).
“We are trying to develop the universities to bring them at par with national and international-level institutions. We have adopted some reforms in higher education,” said Ananta Das. Now, there would be a uniform syllabus for all the universities in the State and examinations would also be conducted at the same time, he added.