The UGC has recommended the granting of Institution of Eminence (IoE) status to Odisha-based Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT).
The decision was taken at a meeting of University Grants Commission (UGC) where five top public universities including Delhi University, Hyderabad University, BHU and IIT Madras and Kharagpur were also recommended for the same .
KIIT is the only institute in Odisha and among seven private universities in the country to be recommended for the IoE status. “For this (recommendation) Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT... has given the credit to PM Narendra Modi, Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, Minister, HRD and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,” a KIIT statement said.
KIIT, an institution for professional education, was started in 1997 and became a deemed University 15 years back. . For this Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has given the credit to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, Minister, HRD and Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha.
In addition to KIIT, Samanta, an academician-turned BJD MP, also set up KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) for tribal students.At present 50,000 indigenous students are provided free food, lodging and education. The effort is aimed at weaning away poor tribal youths from the clutches of Naxalism.