Post News Network
Berhampur, Dec 23: Khallikote Autonomous College (KAC) is going to get the status of cluster university. Funds to upgrade infrastructure of the new university will be provided under Rashtriya Uchchatar Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
KAC principal Professor Radhanath Rath said that the matter of according cluster university status to the college had been discussed at a state-level meeting conducted at Bhubaneswar December 17. Later, the KAC published a formal notification in this regard. A detailed project report in this regard would be prepared soon.
Four colleges of the Berhampur city will be brought under the jurisdiction of the cluster university. This move will reduce the burden on the Berhampur University (BU), to which as many as 147 colleges have been affiliated. The BU finds it difficult to conduct examinations and carry out evaluation of students of such a huge number of colleges. The colleges which would be brought under the cluster have been apprised of the matter. The colleges include Shashibhusan Rath Government Women’s College, Binayak Acharya Government College, Gopalpur College and Chhatrapur Government Science College, Rath said.
After being upgraded into a cluster university, the KAC will prepare syllabus, conduct exams and carry out evaluation for students of these four colleges. The KAC will get Rs 18 crore under RUSA for up-gradation. An examination control building will be constructed on the KAC premises at an expenditure of Rs 8 crore. Other four colleges will get Rs 2 crore each for infrastructure. Meanwhile, a four-member team of the University Grants Commission (UGC) visited the KAC Monday to renew its autonomy status.
According to the KAC authorities, the report given by the UGC team will play a crucial role in according cluster university status to the institution.
The report is also important in getting grants from RUSA and also from UGC, which had stopped providing grants to the college for the last two years. The UGC team visited several departments of the college on the first day. The team members inspected the science laboratories, class rooms, hostels facilities and staff strength. They will visit its library, play ground and other infrastructure Wednesday. KAC Principal Rath said the institution has all the infrastructure required for autonomy status as per guidelines.