The higher education department of Odisha has begun the process of setting up a greenfield university in Jagatsinghpur district, months after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced plans for four such institutions across the state.
The department has written to the Jagatsinghpur collector, requesting the identification of suitable land for the proposed university. In a letter sent on Wednesday, the department stated that the chief minister has granted approval for the establishment of a greenfield university at the district headquarters of Jagatsinghpur. The collector has been asked to identify a parcel of land ranging from 50 to 100 acres within or near the district headquarters, free from encroachments and suitable for university construction.
What is a Greenfield University?
A greenfield university is a higher education institution built from scratch on a new site, featuring new academic systems, governance structures, and research facilities. Unlike brownfield universities, which are upgraded from existing colleges, greenfield institutions offer the advantage of implementing innovative organizational models and pedagogy from the start.
CM's Announcement in February
In February this year, Chief Minister Majhi announced the establishment of four new greenfield universities at the district headquarters of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Jharsuguda. He emphasized that these institutions align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandate, enabling the adoption of fresh approaches in postgraduate courses from day one.
“Unlike brownfield universities, which are upgraded from existing colleges, greenfield institutions have the unique advantage of implementing fundamentally new organisational models and innovative pedagogy in PG courses from day one, in line with the NEP-2020 mandate,” Majhi had said.
