Odisha’s Khallikote Autonomous College gets unitary university status

Odisha’s one of the oldest colleges, The Khallikote Autonomous College, has been given the status of a unitary university. A unitary university acts as a single unit without any affiliated college under it. 

In May, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced that unitary university status would be given to the 165-year-old college, which is located in Berhampur town of Ganjam district. 

Some of the university’s problems such as staff crunch would be solved gradually as recruitment of new teachers would be carried out, an official of the university said. 

The institution was started as a school in 1856 in Berhampur and became an intermediate college in 1878. The autonomy was conferred upon it in 1990. As per the college website, the institute got an ‘A’ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2017. 

“Unitary university status to this college has fulfilled the aspirations of the people of southern Odisha,” Berhampur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu said. “We hope the new university will provide quality education to the students, along with the research activities in contemporary subjects,” he added. 

At present, the student strength of the college is around 5,000. The college offers teaching in 21 different subjects, including six self-financing courses. 

Khallikote Cluster University to merge with Berhampur University  

Khallikote Cluster University (KCU) Vice-Chancellor PK Mohanty will be acting as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the new university, officials said. 

The Odisha government has also decided to merge the KCU with Berhampur University. It will come into effect from October, they said. 

All regular employees of the KCU would be absorbed in Berhampur University as regular employees, they said. 

Read more:

• Khallikote Autonomous College Courses & Fees 2021
• Khallikote Autonomous College Placement Trends & Updates