Use PR, social media to improve image: Review panel to Utkal University
BHUBANESWAR: The academic review committee, which was formed by the higher education department to assess the performance of Utkal University, has furnished it’s report and suggested several measures after finding anomalies in the ongoing works at the institution.
The five-member committee, led by Odisha State Higher Education Council vice-chairman Asoka Kumar Das, has made several suggestions to the university for improving its quality and ranking. It has asked the university to use the tools of public relations for a proper branding of the university.
“Branding and public relations is considered as a necessary component in every university. It is also important for national and international rankings, which determine peer perception. However, at present, all that the university has done is to list it’s future intentions. In actuality, there has been no perceptible concrete achievement in terms of documentation, website upgradation, presence on social sites or alumni programmes except for the mega alumni meet during the 75th year celebrations,” the report said.
The committee has observed that there was no consolidation of gains obtained during the mega alumni meet held in November last year. It has asked the university to go for concrete actions and emphasised on the importance of the university having it’s own social media handles. All activities of the university should be highlighted through social media, said the review panel members.