Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has been inducted as Member of a 12-member high level committee on higher education, constituted by the Planning Commission of India. As per an order of the Planning Commission of India, Committee on Corporate Sector Participation on Higher Education, chaired by Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy, would work for formulation of the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17) for higher education. It would examine and provide recommendations on the potential and modalities for corporate sector participation in higher education in support of development of national education and innovation hubs and the Institutions of National Importance (INIs) / Centres of Excellence. The committee would also suggest models for industry-institute interaction to act as catalysts of innovation and sustainable and inclusive economic and regional development. Samanta would work for a term of 5 years. Other members of the committee include Mr. Kiran Karnik, former President, NASSCOM; Prof. P. Balaram, Director, IISc, Bangaluru; Mr. R. Gupalakrishnan, member – Secretary, National Innovation Council; Mr. Naushad Forbes, Forbes Marshall; Dr. Ashok Misra, former Director, IIT Bombay; Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva, CMD, ONGC; Mr. Arup Roy Choudhury, CMD, NTPC and others.