Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has been re-appointed as a Commission Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for a term of three years. Being the first Odia in the Commission of the UGC, Achyuta Samanta’s appointment has been hailed by academicians throughout the state.

Dr. Samanta was first appointed a Commission Member of UGC in 2008. Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Human Resource Development re-appointed him before the end of his term in February 2011. A Gazette Notification to this effect has been issued on 25th February 2011 by the Ministry of HRD.

His contributions and his active participation in formulation of different policies earned him the distinction of being the first choice of the Ministry of HRD for the consideration of an extension of his term at a time when the private education providers in all over the country are under the scanner of the Ministry. It is a significant achievement for Samanta as well as the state of Odisha as a whole.

Dr. Samanta has also been included in a 9-member Round Table constituted by the Ministry of HRD during January last for the development of education of the downtrodden children in the society. It is a matter of prestige and pride for the state of Odisha.

Dr. Samanta is expected to continue providing his expertise and views for the growth of higher education in India. Presently, Dr. Samanta has been member of several other national and international bodies including AICTE; Coir Board of India; CAPART; Forest Right Act Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Tribal Affairs, Government of India; National Executive Council of ISTE, Government of India; Academic Councils of the Central University, Odisha, Assam Central University, Silchar; Chairman – Advisory Committee of Nehru Gram Bharati Viswavidyalaya, Allahabad; Chairman – Advisory Committee of Padmashree Dr. D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai; Chairman Advisory Committee of Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences University, Nagpur besides being Member of IIE, New York; UMAP, Thailand; AUAP, IAUP and Asia Economic Forum.

Academicians and intellectuals from all over the state and outside have expressed their satisfaction over the appointment of Samanta into the UGC body for one more term. It is a matter of pride for Odisha, they opined.

Reacting to the notification from the Ministry of HRD re-appointing him for the second term in the UGC, Dr. Samanta thanked the Minister of HRD, Shri Kapil Sibal for reposing faith on him and giving credence to the work he did in his first stint. He will continue to work in a constructive way for the development of higher education in the country in general and in Odisha in particular, he said.