Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan

From a humble beginning more than 25 years ago, the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan in Bhubaneswar has grown into a shining academic edifice where quality education and innovative research are the buzzwords today. SOA came into existence on July 17, 2007 when the Education Ministry conferred on it the status of a Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. The multi-campus infrastructure of SOA is home to more than 15,000 students, including from other countries, who have chosen the Deemed to be University to chart out a future for themselves. SOA has been listed among the top 25 universities in the country by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for seven consecutive years now. Ranked 16th in the country by NIRF in 2022, SOA was re-accredited by NAAC with the highest A++ Grade the same year. Three programs of the university’s faculty of engineering and technology have been accredited by the prestigious Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), an internationally reputed US-based accreditation agency.

SOA has been globally ranked among the top 50 universities in India by QS India Ranking. The Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, SOA’s faculty of medical sciences, was ranked 18th in the country by NIRF in 2022. SOA’s faculty of medical sciences runs the 1600-bed IMS and SUM Hospital which has become one of the most sought after healthcare centres in Odisha and neighbouring states.

Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak, Founder of SOA, had established the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) in Bhubaneswar in 1996 with the objective that it would become a centre of excellence so that students of Odisha would not require to go elsewhere seeking quality education. ITER has come to be known as one of the best institutes of engineering and technology in the east. New institutions were added to the list subsequently which comprised disciplines of medical sciences, dental sciences, management, pharmaceutical sciences, bio-technology, nursing, hospitality and tourism management, legal studies, agricultural sciences and veterinary sciences and animal husbandry.

A brilliant student himself, Prof. (Dr.) Nayak had graduated in Electrical Engineering from the Regional Engineering College (presently NIT), Rourkela and did his M.Tech in Computer Science from IIT, Kharagpur. He did his doctorate from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar.

A man, who prefers to maintain a low profile, Prof. (Dr.) Nayak constantly encourages faculty members, researchers and administrators to put their best foot forward. He also set up the SUM Ultimate Medicare, a stand-alone one-stop, next-generation multi-super specialty quaternary care hospital in the Odisha capital which has been making its presence felt.

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