Centurion University, Survey Of India Ink Pact To Advance Geospatial Research In Odisha
Centurion University, Odisha, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India (SoI) to boost joint research and development, capacity building, knowledge exchange and technical training in the geospatial sector.
SoI Director Bharat Kumbhar and Vice-Chancellor, Centurion University Prof (Dr) Supriya Pattanayak signed the five-year agreement at the varsity’s Jatni campus.
Under the agreement, students of Centurion University will gain practical exposure through internship programs at SoI offices. Simultaneously, SoI officials will be offered opportunities to enrol in short-term specialised training as well as MTech and PhD programmes at Centurion University, subject to institutional norms.
“This partnership aligns with our core vision of skill-integrated higher education. Giving our students direct exposure to SoI’s national mapping projects while hosting SoI professionals for advanced research will bridge the academia-industry gap and drive meaningful innovation in spatial science,” Pattanayak said.
The initiative also envisions joint R&D projects, international and national conferences, workshops, technical exchanges, efforts toward co-authoring scientific publications, securing patents and pursuing technology transfers. A joint steering committee will oversee, coordinate and review all joint initiatives periodically.
Emphasising the strategic importance of capacity building in spatial technology, Kumbhar noted, “Geospatial data is the backbone of modern infrastructure, governance and sustainable planning. Collaborating with Centurion University will allow us to upskill our workforce through higher academic research while nurturing the next generation of geospatial experts equipped to tackle real-world development challenges.”
The collaboration is expected to significantly enrich the research, skill-development, and geospatial education ecosystem across Odisha and the country.
Campus Director Jagannath Padhi, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Biswajit Mishra, IIC Director Dr Sujata Chakravarty, Kumar Chandra Sethi and Dr Kamal Kumar Barik from the university’s Department of Civil Engineering along with other staff members and SoI’s Technical Officer Jayanta Kumar Pradhan, Officer Surveyor Debasish Das, Officer Surveyor Sankar Prasad, Officer Surveyor Manoj Kumar Nayak were present in the MoU signing ceremony on Wednesday.