Bhubaneswar, April 13: The Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024 has come into effect in the state following the assent of Governor Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati.
The Bill was passed on 2nd April this year after extensive deliberation in the Odisha Assembly. With the Governor’s approval, the Act is now in force throughout the state, marking a significant reform in Odisha’s higher education system.
Expressing his gratitude to the Governor, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj described this development as a “new dawn” for higher education in the state.
He emphasized that the act will bring transformative changes aimed at strengthening the education system, addressing longstanding challenges and enhancing academic excellence.
“The Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024 has been designed to address long-standing challenges in the state’s higher education domain. It aims to bring about substantial reforms, ensuring autonomy for universities and enhancing the efficiency of academic functions,” Minister Suraj said.
With the amendment in the Act, the recruitment of faculty in universities will not be conducted through the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC). Instead, universities will form a committee comprising educationists for the faculty recruitment purpose. This will allow the recruitment process to be completed within a specified period, without unnecessary delays.
Furthermore, it will ensure that faculty appointments align with the requirements of undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, as well as subject-specific demands.
A three-member committee will be constituted for the selection of Vice-Chancellors in universities. Only distinguished educationists from the field of higher education will be part of this committee. The age limit for Vice-Chancellors has been increased from 67 to 70 years. This decision seeks to bring in experienced academic leaders into university administration.
With the enforcement of the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, the Senate is being reintroduced into the administrative framework of universities.
The Senate is the highest advisory body of a university, comprising educationists, faculty, students, administrative staff etc and it plays a vital role in the development of the university and the higher education sector.
As per the Act, each university will have a Senate that will meet at least twice a year. The Senate will consist of 68 members, out of which a minimum of 37 members will be from among teachers, educationists, and student representatives, ensuring balanced and inclusive representation.
