Gangadhar Meher University (GMU), located in this Sambalpur, Odisha, has set up a special cell to promote research activities. “Earlier, the institution was a college and not much research work was undertaken. However, it has been upgraded to a university and the focus is on research. Hence, to promote and support research work, a Research Promotion Cell (RPC) has been formed,” said Member Secretary of the RPC, U C Pati.

An action plan has already been prepared by the newly formed RPC to promote research activities, he said.Established in 1944, the Gangadhar Meher College was upgraded to a university in May, 2015. The institution, which has 5300 students, offers undergraduate, postgraduate, M Phil and pre-doctoral courses besides self-financing and vocational courses.

The students of the university will benefit immensely with increasing research activities, Pati said. Apart from this, our institution will also participate in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of the Union Human Resource Development (MHRD) ministry this year. The research activities will help the institution get a good ranking in the NIRF, added Pati.