Visionary leadership lauded as SOA University marks 18 years of excellence

Bhubaneswar, July 17: Eminent academicians praised Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) on Wednesday for its outstanding contributions to higher education and society.

Speaking at the university's 18th Foundation Day, Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of IIT Bhubaneswar, highlighted SOA's significant growth due to visionary leadership, notably from its Founder President, Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak.

Other distinguished attendees included MLA Babu Singh, BPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Amiya Kumar Rath, and OUTR Vice-Chancellor Prof. Bibhuti Bhushan Biswal. They commended SOA's dedication to excellence in education and research.

Prof. Karmalkar emphasized that true education fosters critical thinking and diverse learning approaches. He highlighted the importance of curiosity and perseverance in research, citing Thomas Edison's and NASA's repeated efforts before achieving success. He also noted the correlation between reading habits and Nobel Prizes, with countries like Israel and Hungary, known for avid reading, producing several laureates.

MLA Babu Singh acknowledged SOA's status as a premier institution in Odisha and the country, attributing its success to Prof. Nayak's leadership. Prof. Biswal praised Prof. Nayak's innovative thinking and contributions to education. He also lauded SOA's efforts during the pandemic, which significantly benefited the state.

Prof. Rath likened SOA to a book with a few chapters yet to be written, crediting Prof. Nayak's vision and positive attitude for the university's achievements. He encouraged sincerity in duties without concern for outcomes.

The event also saw the release of the June 2024 issue of 'SOArchives', SOA's monthly newsletter. Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, welcomed the guests, while Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare), conducted the program and proposed the vote of thanks.