Interview: Dr (Prof) Mukti Kanta Mishra, President, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha

An interview with Dr (Prof) Mukti Kanta Mishra, President, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha

Dr. (Prof) Mukti Kanta Mishra, President of Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, is a visionary leader in higher education. With a distinguished career in academia and administration, Dr. Mishra has pioneered innovative approaches to skill development and societal impact.

Can you share with us the vision behind the establishment of Centurion University of Technology and Management, and how has that vision evolved over time?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: I had the conviction and clarity about skill-integrated and competency-based education way back in early 2000 as the future of education delivery. Hence, Centurion University was designed and developed as a university with a focus on hands-on knowledge, experiential learning and practice-linked pedagogy.

I had the belief that a university must be universal in its existence hence, must cater to students who were school dropouts to the highest level of education. The university should be equipped in such a way that it can serve anyone interested to acquire knowledge, skill and education to earn their livelihoods with decency and dignity.

We have been steadfast on this path and today created a massive impact in skill-integrated higher education, fostering an ecosystem that instills employability, entrepreneurial ability and creative thinking.

We are proud to develop a learning model that creates an industry-ready workforce, which is the most pertinent need of the hour.

What sets Centurion University apart from other institutions in Odisha, particularly in terms of its educational philosophy and approach?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: As a university, we strive to provide our students not just with theoretical knowledge but with practical, skill-based education that makes them job ready when they pass out from here. We strive to provide education to the marginalised sector of the society and make them job ready once they complete their education at Centurion University.

How does Centurion University integrate technology and management into its curriculum, and what advantages does this interdisciplinary approach offer to students?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: We teach the students about product designing, developing it, getting it patented, published and produce it at commercial level. If an engineering student learns to make an e-rickshaw or design a car, a student pursuing a course in agriculture is able to utilise technology to produce the best yield and work as not just a farmer but an entrepreneur, only then can we truly say that our students are ready to take on the challenges that the future may unfold.

And this approach has helped us create more successful students, ready for Industry 5.0 as they know the technical know how of the production process and can also sell their products like an entrepreneur.

Could you highlight some of the key initiatives and programs undertaken by Centurion University to promote skill development and entrepreneurship among its students?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: I had absolute clarity that students going for industry internships for real time learning return with only visual and optic experience without any hands-on knowledge and experiential learning. The need for a paradigm shift was felt where the university ecosystem needed to evolve from traditional and applied learning to action learning.

This is possible by including industries in the university, and for this a vast amount of dedication, passion and a zeal to succeed is needed. Market linked people, product development and production units with latest technology will help achieve this goal. 

The university has directly or through incubated social enterprise create about 32 products, directly through its product centric model. To accomplish these products and product-centric model, we have deep-rooted partnerships with various industries for institutional and individual mentoring.

As many visitors commented after their exposure to our Campuses, Centurion University is more like an industry than a university, which brings a smile to all of us. But we still have so much to achieve and create bigger impact.

Our aim is to have Rs.100 crore turnover by academic year 2025-26 from the product and productions, which is currently around Rs.30-35 crores.

In what ways does Centurion University engage with industry partners to ensure its programs remain relevant and aligned with market needs?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: Centurion has been the pioneer when it comes to industry partnership at university level. We set up the university with a motto to inculcate skill based learning. We offer 120 skill courses with 45 domain specializations and give the students ample of options to choose from.

The manufacturing units at the campusalong with LIVE Labs provide hands on training to the students. A perfect example of industry-academia collaboration, these units and labs are set up in partnership with leading industry players, including the likes of Yamaha, Dassault Systèmes and Schneider Electric, among others.

Can you discuss some of the challenges you’ve faced in leading Centurion University, and how have you addressed or overcome them?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: With our aim to cater to the marginalised section of the society in rural areas we understood that these students ended up discontinuing their education at some point or the other. The reasons could be shortage of funds or a necessity to earn money for the family. 

Our short term certificate and diploma course, including ITI for 10^th pass students help them choose a course according to their need and aspirations. The National Institute of Open School for dropouts enable Multiple entry & exit ramps and a Choice Based Credit System allows students to accumulate credits and earn qualifications at their own pace.

They get lifelong income opportunities with RPL & Work integrated programs. Thus students can go on to do a degree, master’s course and end up with a PHD who is a Nano Entrepreneur too at their own pace.

As the President of Centurion University, what strategies do you employ to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the institution?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: Centurion University as a model believes in the education delivery by blending and converging teaching, training, design, projects, production and resulting in productivity. Students are not directly responsible for producing market-linked products starting from bread to rice to CO2 supercritical extracts to transformers to high precision components for HAL and ISRO, etc.

However, students are involved and engaged with experts at every level of product design, development, manufacturing, packaging and marketing. As students become part of the supply chain management and reverse auction, they learn well beyond what a classroom can teach.

How does Centurion University prioritize inclusivity and diversity among its student body and faculty, and what measures are in place to support underrepresented groups?

Mukti Kanta Mishra: Though education is supposed to be a public good and education institutions to follow a non-exclusion principle, in the private sector education, especially the higher education institutions survive and thrive on the fact that education is elusive and a commercial good, attainable only by the wealthy.

Centurion University was modelled to be like a public sector university in the private sector. Thus, five of the six constituent Campuses of Centurion University are established in remote, rural and regional areas. The intent has been and shall remain to nurture accessibility, diversity, inclusivity and equity in education delivery, which is my personal belief and core value.

Under Dr. Mishra’s guidance, Centurion University continues to lead in fostering holistic education and community engagement. His commitment to excellence and inclusivity sets a benchmark in the educational landscape, ensuring graduates are equipped to meet global challenges with competence and compassion.

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