Overview
Siksha 'O' Anusandhan, often abbreviated as SOA and styled Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, is a deemed-to-be university located in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the Indian state of Odisha. Established as an institution of higher learning offering programmes in engineering, medicine, dental sciences, pharmacy, nursing, management, law, hotel management, agriculture and biotechnology, it functions as a multi-disciplinary university operating from a campus in Bhubaneswar.
Key facts
| Name | Siksha 'O' Anusandhan |
|---|---|
| Type | Deemed to be University |
| Location | Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India |
| Country | India |
| Recognition | Deemed university status under the University Grants Commission framework |
Background
The university grew out of a group of professional institutions promoted in Bhubaneswar, with the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) serving as one of its founding constituents in the field of engineering. Over time, additional faculties were added, including the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, the Institute of Dental Sciences, the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Institute of Business and Computer Studies, and schools of law, hotel management and biotechnology. These institutions were brought together under a single university structure after the parent body was conferred deemed-to-be-university status by the Government of India on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Academics
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across its faculties. Major academic units include:
- Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) — engineering and technology
- Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital — medicine and allied health sciences
- Institute of Dental Sciences
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Faculty of Management Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- School of Biotechnology
- School of Agriculture
- School of Nursing
Campus and infrastructure
SOA's principal campus is in Bhubaneswar, with academic blocks, laboratories, hostels, libraries and a multi-specialty teaching hospital (SUM Hospital) attached to its medical faculty. The hospital functions both as a clinical training facility for medical and nursing students and as a tertiary-care provider for the region.
Recognition
The university has been ranked among Indian higher-education institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) published by the Ministry of Education, with placements in the university and discipline-specific categories such as engineering, medical, dental, pharmacy and management. It is recognised by statutory regulators relevant to its professional programmes, including the Medical Council of India / National Medical Commission for medical education, the Dental Council of India, the Pharmacy Council of India, the Bar Council of India and the All India Council for Technical Education.
Research
Research at SOA spans engineering, biomedical and clinical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology and management. The university operates dedicated research centres and supports doctoral programmes across its faculties, with publication output and externally funded projects reported in its annual disclosures.
Significance
As one of the larger private deemed universities in eastern India, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan plays a notable role in higher education and healthcare delivery in Odisha, training students in professional disciplines and providing tertiary medical care through its teaching hospital. Its presence has contributed to Bhubaneswar's emergence as a regional hub for higher education alongside institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar, KIIT University and Utkal University.
Related topics
- Bhubaneswar
- Education in Odisha
- List of deemed universities in India
- University Grants Commission (India)
- National Institutional Ranking Framework
- KIIT University
- Utkal University
References
- Wikidata entry: Q7513963
- University Grants Commission, list of deemed-to-be universities
- National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Ministry of Education, Government of India