Chapter II THE UNIVERSITY

(1) There shall be established a University in the name of "Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology" by issue of notification by the Government and it shall be a non-affiliating Unitary University. (2) The headquarters of the University shall be at Burla in Sambalpur District of Orissa. (3) The University shall be a body corporate by the name of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology and such body corporate shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued by that name. (4) The jurisdiction of the University shall extend over all that is presently comprised of University College of Engineering, Burla to be recognized, restructured and renamed in a notification to be issued by the Government under sub-section (1) and to all schools of studies and Departments to be established by the University with prior permission of the Government. (5) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Statutes, the University shall be competent to acquire and hold property both movable and immovable, to lease, sell or otherwise transfer any movable or immovable property, which may have become vested in, or may have been acquired by, it for the purposes of the University and to contract and do all other things necessary for the purposes of this Act.

The objects of the University shall be — (i) to promote education, research and training in engineering and technology, including information technology and its application, architecture, management and applied sciences for the advancement of knowledge and for the betterment of society ; (ii) to improve the quality of education, research and training in the field of engineering and technology, including information technology and its application, architecture, management and applied sciences for the advancement of knowledge and for the betterment of society; (iii) to provide facilities and opportunities for graduate and post-graduate education, Ph.D. and research in the field of engineering and technology, including information technology and its application to architecture, management and applied sciences and by instruction, training, research, development and extension and by such other means as the University may deem fit; (iv) to devise and implement programmes of education in the field of engineering and technology, including information technology and its application to architecture, management and applied sciences that are relevant to the changing needs of society; (v) to serve as a centre for fostering co-operation and interaction between the academic and research community on the one hand and industry on the other; (vi) to organize exchange programmes with other institutions of repute in India and abroad with a view to keeping abreast of the latest developments in relevant areas of teaching and research; (vii) to provide for industrial consultancy services ; and (viii) to undertake such other activities as may be required to fulfil the above objects.

Subject to such orders, rules, regulations, guidelines and directions, as may be issued from time to time, by the Central Government, Government of Orissa or the Council under the provisions of the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987, the University shall have the following powers and functions, namely :— (i) to establish and maintain Departments in the field of engineering and technology, including information technology and its application to architecture, management and applied sciences on regular or part time basis; (ii) to provide for instruction and training in such branches of learning as are in keeping with the objects of the University and to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge ; (iii) to institute degrees, titles, diplomas and other academic distinctions; (iv) to grant, subject to such conditions as the University may determine, diplomas or certificates and confer degrees and other academic distinctions on the basis of examinations, evaluation or any other method of assessment, on deserving persons; (v) to confer honorary degrees, or other distinctions on distinguished persons in accordance with the conditions to be prescribed by the Statutes; (vi) to withdraw or cancel degrees, titles, diplomas, certificates or other distinctions under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Statutes; (vii) to take measures to have constant interaction with industries and other employers of technical manpower for orienting the education and training towards the needs of industries and other employers; (viii) to provide common forum for interaction between research institutions, industries and other Universities to ensure transfer of technology from research institutions to industries and to prepare the students of the University for using and disseminating innovative technology; (ix) to act in furtherance of the entrepreneurial skills and abilities among students ; (x) to assess the needs of the State and the Country in terms of subjects, fields of specialization, level of education and training of technical manpower both on short-term and long-term basis and to introduce or encourage introduction of innovative training programmes and to re-orient existing training programmes to meet such needs; (xi) to make arrangements for promoting the health, general welfare and moral well-being of students and take such measures as would foster in them habits of hard work, self-discipline and spirit of service to society; (xiI) to fix the fees payable to the University and to demand and receive such fees; (xiii) to hold and manage endowments and bursaries and to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, studentships, medals and prizes; (xiv) to institute, raise and provide funds wherever necessary for carrying out the functions of the University; (xv) to co-operate with other Universities or institutions or authorities or associations in such manner and for such purposes as the Board may determine; (xvi) to establish, maintain, manage and confer recognition to hostels; (xvii) to co-ordinate, supervise, regulate and control the teaching, consultancy and conduct of research in the University to the extent deemed necessary; (iv) to grant, subject to such conditions as the University may determine, diplomas or certificates and confer degrees and other academic distinctions on the basis of examinations, evaluation or any other method of assessment, on deserving persons; (v) to confer honorary degrees, or other distinctions on distinguished persons in accordance with the conditions to be prescribed by the Statutes; (vi) to withdraw or cancel degrees, titles, diplomas, certificates or other distinctions under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Statutes; (vii) to take measures to have constant interaction with industries and other employers of technical manpower for orienting the education and training towards the needs of industries and other employers; (viii) to provide common forum for interaction between research institutions, industries and other Universities to ensure transfer of technology from research institutions to industries and to prepare the students of the University for using and disseminating innovative technology; (ix) to act in furtherance of the entrepreneurial skills and abilities among students ; (x) to assess the needs of the State and the Country in terms of subjects, fields of specialization, level of education and training of technical manpower both on short-term and long-term basis and to introduce or encourage introduction of innovative training programmes and to re-orient existing training programmes to meet such needs; (xi) to make arrangements for promoting the health, general welfare and moral well-being of students and take such measures as would foster in them habits of hard work, self-discipline and spirit of service to society; (xiI) to fix the fees payable to the University and to demand and receive such fees; (xiii) to hold and manage endowments and bursaries and to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, studentships, medals and prizes; (xiv) to institute, raise and provide funds wherever necessary for carrying out the functions of the University; (xv) to co-operate with other Universities or institutions or authorities or associations in such manner and for such purposes as the Board may determine; (xvi) to establish, maintain, manage and confer recognition to hostels; (xvii) to co-ordinate, supervise, regulate and control the teaching, consultancy and conduct of research in the University to the extent deemed necessary; (xviii) to determine the powers and duties of the officers and other employees of the University other than those provided in this Act; (xix) to institute and establish Professorships, Readerships, Lectureship and any other teaching and research posts required by the University and to appoint persons to such posts; and (xx) to do all such acts and things as may be required in furtherance of the objects of the University.

No person shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, residence, language, political opinion or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of any employment or office under the University or membership of any of the authorities of the University or admission to any course of study or research in the University: Provided that the University may in consonance with policy of the Government, reserve seats for the members of the Backward Classes of Citizens or Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or women or any other category of persons, for the purpose of admission as students to any of the courses of the University.