Berhampur University, Korapalli, Odisha, India

Berhampur University, Korapalli – Southern Odisha’s Academic Beacon at Bhanja Bihar

Introduction

Established in 1967, Berhampur University (BU) is a prominent affiliating public university in Odisha, serving Ganjam, and historically overseeing districts like Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and others. Located in Bhanja Bihar, Korapalli campus near Brahmapur, it spans ~250 acres and leads the region in postgraduate education, research output, quality accreditation, and community engagement.

1. Establishment & History

• Founded on 2 January 1967 under Odisha Act 21 of 1966; inaugurated by Governor A.N. Khosla. BU is named in honour of poet Upendra Bhanja and indicates “Let light emerge from darkness” (Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya) as its motto (Wikipedia).
• Original jurisdiction included Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Boudh; in 2023 some districts were transferred to Vikram Dev University, Jeypore (Wikipedia).
• Merged with Khallikote University in October 2021, adding PG departments in Biotechnology, Tourism, Environment and Library Science (Wikipedia).

2. Affiliations & Accreditation

• Recognized by UGC, AIU, ACU; University Grants Commission grants Section 2(f) status and BU is an affiliating university.
• NAAC Cycle‑2 accredited with A grade and CGPA 3.01, later downgraded to B grade (March–April 2024); BU has removed grade from its website citing ongoing re‑assessment amid NAAC’s transition to a binary system (Wikipedia, The New Indian Express).

3. Academic Structure & Courses Offered

3.1 Undergraduate & Postgraduate Education

• BU offers UG programs via Harihar Mardaraj Distance Education Centre, including 28 courses across Arts, Science, Commerce and professional streams. PG departments total 24, in disciplines such as Botany, Chemistry, Economics, Business Administration, and newer ones like Biotechnology and Environmental Studies (Wikipedia).
• Self‑financing PG programs include MBA, Women’s Studies, Pharmacy, B.Ed. Diploma, M.Phil., and D.Litt (honoris causa) (Wikipedia).

3.2 Doctoral & M.Phil With Research Focus

• BU conducts M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in numerous departments; the university hosts UGC/ICSSR/DST funded projects, faculty publish academic monographs, and conduct regular departmental seminars and refresher courses (edarabia.com).

4. Campus & Facilities

• The Bhanja Bihar campus covers ~250 acres (urban setting ~12 km from city, 5 km from Gopalpur Beach), with eight teaching blocks, eight hostels, a health centre, library, auditorium, sports complex, canteen, SBI branch, and more (edarabia.com).
• Facilities include museum‑cum‑archival cell, distance education centre, guest house, postgraduate school, police outpost, botanical garden, and multiple temples on campus (edarabia.com).

5. Academic Excellence & Research

5.1 Research Output

• BU has produced over 2,840 research papers with 28,790 citations across Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics, Arts, Commerce, Computer Science, and Quantum Science (EduRank).
• National subject rankings: Biology (#1,610 publications), Chemistry (1,538), Engineering (1,438), Physics (1,382) etc., reflecting strong multi-disciplinary research presence (EduRank).

5.2 Regional & Innovation Projects

• Under the MRIP‑2024 programme, BU launched a ₹5.5 lakh climate‑resilient kewda cultivation and livelihood study in Ganjam district, aimed at empowering rural youth and farmers via aromatic floriculture tied to industry (The Times of India).

6. Career Development & Placement

• BU conducts placement drives for its PG departments; top recruiters include Kotak Bank, Vedanta, ITC, TCS, SBI Life, Infosys, Genpact, IBM, Wipro, Cognizant, HCL, Capgemini, Tech Mahindra (Shiksha).
• Placement stats (2023):
  • UG 3‑year median: ₹3.6 LPA (up from ₹1.7 → ₹2.5 LPA from 2021)
  • PG 2‑year median: ₹4.8 LPA (up from ₹3.5 → ₹4.2 LPA) (Shiksha).

7. Notable Alumni & Administration

• Distinguished alumni include:
  • Arun K. Pati, quantum physicist and discoverer of the no-hiding theorem; earned M.Sc. in Physics from BU in 1987 (Wikipedia, Wikipedia).
  • Giridhar Gamang, former Chief Minister of Odisha
  • Dr. Subrat K. Acharya, eminent gastroenterologist
  • Kulamani Parida, chemical scientist;
  • Dr. Krishna Mohan Pathi, Padma Shri awardee orthopedic surgeon from tribal areas;
  • Arun K. Pati, Mrinal Chatterjee, Malla Vijaya Prasad, among others (Wikipedia).
• Vice-Chancellors: Prof. Govind J. Chakrapani (2019–2022), distinguished geologist and academic administrator; succeeded by Prof. Geetanjali Dash in 2022 (Wikipedia).

8. Reputation, Rankings & Awards

8.1 NAAC Accreditation & Status

• BU was NAAC A‑rated (CGPA 3.01) in an earlier cycle; downgraded to B in 2024, pending a new binary accreditation system rollout in July 2025 (The Fela).

8.2 Rankings & Affiliations

• BU is accredited by UGC and affiliated with AIU, Association of Commonwealth Universities; recognized for regional leadership in southern Odisha education (Wikipedia).
• NIRF ranking band placed BU in 151–200 Indian universities; its PG schools are ranked regionally high among science and humanities programmes (Collegedunia).

9. Address & Contact Details

Berhampur University
Bhanja Bihar, Korapalli, Berhampur – 760007, Ganjam District, Odisha, India (mkcgmch.nic.in)
Website: buodisha.edu.in (also accessible from bamu.nic.in) (Shiksha, Wikipedia)
Phone: +91‑680‑2227333 (Registrar, Administrative Office) (mkcgmch.nic.in, Wikipedia)

10. Student Safety & Governance

• Mahila students’ safety and POSH compliance are emphasized: BU has tightened campus security with ID checks, installed complaint boxes, and conducts quarterly awareness workshops (The Times of India).
• Government has allocated ₹2.2 crore for rebuilding boundary walls around the boys’ hostel, displaced after Rangeilunda Airport expansion (Facebook).

11. Strengths & Opportunities

✅ Strengths

• Long-standing public university with affiliating responsibility over diverse colleges in southern Odisha.
• Strong research profile (2,840+ publications, 28,790 citations).
• Historical heritage and broad academic departments, including emerging PG studies.
• NAAC A accreditation earlier, notable alumni, and impactful rural‑linked research (e.g., kewda flower project).
• Well‑planned infrastructure on a 250-acre urban campus with modern amenities.

⚠️ Areas for Growth

• Recent NAAC downgrade from A to B may affect reputation; re-accreditation under the new binary framework will be pivotal (The New Indian Express, EduRank, The Times of India).
• Infrastructure gaps: need for hostel expansion, modernization of labs and research centres.
• Placement support at UG and PG level needs scaling akin to corporate partnerships.
• Digital presence could be improved to display accreditation status, outcomes, and institutional data transparently.

12. Conclusion

Berhampur University remains a critical centre for higher education and research in southern Odisha. Its wide academic offerings, evolving postgraduate specializations, significant research output, and impactful alumni place BU as a beacon of learning in Ganjam. With continued infrastructure investment, accreditation renewal, and strengthened student support, BU is well‑positioned to further its legacy as a modern, inclusive, and research-driven public university.

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