Odisha Government plans to upgrade Institute of Mathematics to university status

BHUBANESWAR: The science and technology department held a meeting recently to discuss the possibility of upgrading the Institute of Mathematics and Applications (IMA) Bhubaneswar to a unitary university.

As Ashok Chandra Panda told TOI, the state government plans to convert this institution into a university. “The institute should send their recommendations about this matter before we take any such action. We will discuss these recommendations once we receive them,” he added.

The meeting took place on November 28 under the chairmanship of science and technology department secretary Chithra Arumugam. Gokulananda Das, former vice-chancellor of Utkal University and ex-chairman of the IMA’s governing council, said that the institute would be able to obtain academic freedom once it acquired the university tag and would no longer have to depend on Utkal University for approvals.

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After the institute becomes a university, Das said, the institute can set its question papers, hold examinations and publish results on its own. “It can also start new PG courses, specializations and departments. The proposed university will provide an industry-academia interface to link students/researchers with industry/market. It can also collaborate with reputed academic and research and development (R&D) organizations in India and abroad for academic interaction,” he added.

The director intends to upgrade the institute into a university, according to Jasobanta Jena, director of the institute. “The science and technology department recently conducted a review meeting on this matter after receiving the proposal,” he stated.

He believes that the proposed university will provide a multidimensional approach to mathematics, statistics, mathematical physics, computer science, and finance. He added that it will provide a specialized field of knowledge in mathematics and its applications in addition to allied subjects, making it one of its kind in the country.

In addition to infrastructure development, the IMA also requires a greater number of faculty, research scholars, and support staff to move towards excellence. In order to attract bright students, it is necessary to run cutting-edge courses. The institute’s teacher stated, “University status will solve many of our institution’s problems.”

The state government approved a total of Rs 10 crore last year for the expansion of the institute’s infrastructure. The project will include the construction of a new library building, guest house, staff quarters, director’s bungalow, and other campus facilities.