Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University: An indispensable centre of excellence

Not many universities in India are so high-profiled as the SOA in Bhubaneswar to excel in research and patent development

THE Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University (SOA) in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is carving a niche for itself as a centre of focused research.
The university, ranked 20th in the country among universities by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), an instrument of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, is presently engaged in a plethora of research activities.
SOA came into being in July 2007 as a Deemed to be University. It set up the Centre of Excellence in Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (CETMS) to promote advancement of research in frontier areas of science, including High Energy Physics, Condensed Matter Physics and various branches of pure and applied Mathematics.  
In the area of High Energy Physics, CETMS attempts to understand and look for answers to a few among thousands of outstanding questions relating to the fundamental structure of matter and the universe. 
It also has been conducting research in the area of biomaterials and tissue regeneration relating to applications of physical and life sciences and engineering to develop viable substitutes, which could restore and maintain the functioning of human tissues.
SOA University's Multidisciplinary Research Cell and Micro-mechanical System (MEMS) Design Centre (in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru) are engaged in exemplary research activities such as RF Mems, Bio Mems, Signal Analysis, Embedded System, Video Surveillance, Bio Medical Signal and Image Analysis. 
The Centre for Nano Sciences and Nano Technology (CNSNT), established in 2013, has been conducting advanced research on nano materials. The centre has so far applied for 11 patents. 
Researchers at the centre are presently working on isolating hydrogen, viewed as the fuel for the future, by splitting water using solar energy and semi-conductor material. The research centres are headed by eminent researchers with long experience in their respective areas of expertise. 
The university has signed MoUs with 23 other universities, including in the U.S. and other countries for research cooperation.
The other research centres run by the university include Centre for Applied Mathematics, Centre for Bio-mechanical Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Health, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Centre for Rural and Tribal Development.
The university, which has 3,034 SCOPUS Indexed publications to its credit so far and an H-Index of 34,  has identified 18 thrust areas for which 10 research and field centres besides 29 research labs - 15 of them in engineering - have been set up. Research at the University is headed by a Dean aided by highly qualified faculty members. 
SOA University, through its nine constituent institutes, offers under-graduate, post-graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral degrees in engineering and technology, medical and dental sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and biotechnology, management sciences, including hospital administration, nursing, hospitality and tourism management, legal studies and agricultural sciences. 
Academic rigour being the standard for all its constituent institutes, the university has put in place robust bulwarks to ensure welfare of students and ensure that they passed through its portals prepared for the challenges of the world.
The seed for SOA was sown when visionary educationist Prof Manojranjan Nayak set up the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), regarded today as one of the finest engineering colleges in the country, in 1996. The institute is known for its qualified faculty members, innovative curriculum prepared in consultation of prominent world universities and impressive placement.
The other constituent institutes of the SOA University include the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital (IMSSM), Institute of Business and Computer Studies (IBCS), Institute of Dental Sciences (IDS), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS), SUM Nursing College (SNC), School of Hotel Management (SHM), SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL) and Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS). 
The 750-bed SUM Hospital is one of the most crowded healthcare centres of the region. The state-of-the-art hospital has been striving to provide quality healthcare services to the people at affordable cost. The IMS admits 150 students every year to the MBBS course.
All the institutes have excellent infrastructure. The libraries comprise Indian and foreign books, as well as journals and e-Library facility. They boast of a meritorious talent pool of over 1,100 faculty members. 
The University, spread across 200 acres, has 2.5 million square feet of built up area housing its various facilities with new arenas coming up for a variety of activities.

• India