BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha State Open University Bill, 2014 was passed in the Assembly in the absence of Opposition members.
“The Open University to be located at Sambalpur will provide higher education opportunities in remote areas having no access to institutional education, dropout students and in-service people,” Minister of State for Higher Education Pradip Kumar Panigrahi said.
The proposed open university will be the first of its kind in the State and its impact and jurisdiction will be vast. “The State Government will provide `35 crore and required land for establishment of the university and its infrastructure development,” Panigrahi said.
Other universities of the State offering open and distance education programmes will be given the option to continue the programmes by establishing or recognising institutes, regional centres and study centres within the State in accordance with guidelines of the Distance Education Council within three years of the commencement of the Odisha State Open University Act.
Outside universities offering distance education programme through open and distance learning system in the State will have to obtain Government approval for continuing the programmes within one year from the date of commencement of this Act, the Minister said.
However, this provision will not be applicable to the universities established under any law made by the Parliament.
The proposed open university will endeavour to establish Schools in Social Science and Humanities, Science and Technology, Education (Continuing and Extension), Teacher Education, Business and Management Studies, Healthcare Studies, Computer and Information Sciences, Agriculture and any other subject approved by the State Government.
The vice-chancellor of the proposed university will be appointed by the chancellor (Governor) from a panel of three names recommended by a three-member committee comprising a nominee of the Chancellor. The Chancellor’s nominee will be the chairman of the committee. Of the other two members, one will be nominated by the board of management while the other will be a nominee of the chairperson of Distance Education Council.
The Registrar of the university will be appointed by the Chancellor on the recommendation of the State Government for a period of three years.