Move to upgrade Khallikote College into a cluster university

The state government has proposed to upgrade Khallikote autonomous college into a cluster university. The government sent the proposal to the Union ministry of human resources development recently for approval.

"The move will enable the institution to get more funds under the Rastriya Uchchatara Sikshya Abhiyan (RUSA) and also ease the burden of Berhampur University," said higher education minister Pradip Kumar Panigrahi.

If the proposal is approved, Khallikote College will be the first cluster university in the state. The cluster university concept envisages a lead college with a maximum of five colleges tagged to it. The colleges to be tagged in the cluster university would be decided upon only after the proposal is approved, added regional director (education) Berhampur P K Tripathy. The proposed university will enjoy facilities like other varsities, he said.

The government's move is significant as it is mandatory for a college to get accreditation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) if it is to get funds from RUSA-the National Higher Education Mission (NHEM).

The NAAC accreditation for Khallikote College expired in 2009, while it also lost its autonomy status in May 2013. University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought a NAAC accreditation certificate from the college authorities for renewal of its autonomous status.

'We have dispatched the necessary documents, including the NAAC certificate we got earlier, requesting UGC to renew the autonomous status," said college principal R N Rath. He said the college was preparing to receive a NAAC team for fresh accreditation. "Preparations are on in full swing along with making various reports for the NAAC team," he added.

The 136-year-old college, however, is grappling with acute shortage of teaching staff. The college only has about 30 teachers although the total number of sanctioned teaching posts is 90. Moreover, the premier college has no professor in any of its department at present, even though it has post-graduate and MPhil courses in 15 departments.

"We know about the problems of the college, particularly the shortage of staff. The problem will be solved soon," said higher education minister Pradip Kumar Panigrahi. Source: The  ToI