Support to Students from Low or Lower-Middle-Income Countries

SDG 1 No Poverty

Support to Students from Low or Lower-Middle-Income Countries

Centurion University treats national and international students equally. The fee structure of international students is on par with the domestic for all of its programs. There are students from several low and middle-income countries like former Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh Sudan, and Uganda studying at the University. One of the schools, School of Maritime Studies has around 300 students from Nigeria as of 2023. The students are studying Bachelor of Marine Engineering and Nautical Sciences. The courses are carefully designed to build up the capacity of the country as Nigeria has a long coastline but limited capacity to train and skill its human resources. These categories of students are given 100% scholarship / financial assistance to cover their academic,
hostel and mess fees. They have been given the scope to access all the academic and non-academic
facilities inside the campus like the digital library, waiver in registration in different cultural, technical and sports clubs of the university. They are also covered with medical insurance which is applicable when admitted to the hospital due to any illness requiring hospitalization. They are also provided with medicines (free of cost) when they fall sick with common cough, cold, fever, etc. from the in-campus pharmacy store.

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Providing Assistance to the Local Community Supporting the Start-up

SDG 1 No Poverty

Providing Assistance to the Local Community Supporting the Start-up

Centurion University is a recognized incubator by Start-up Odisha and Start-up India (Government of the State and Government of India). Since 2015 and as of 2023, 49 start-ups were incubated at the University in variegated areas beginning from e-mobility to apparel. The University adheres to Odisha Startup Policy 2016 (Amended in 2018) and National Innovation and Startup Policy 2020.

The University provides valuable assistance to the local community in supporting startup initiatives through a range of collaborative efforts and resources.

Awareness Drives: The University in collaboration with the local government conducts several awareness campaigns to ignite scientific temper and entrepreneurial mindset among its students, faculty members, and local community. In the year 2022, around 15 awareness drives were conducted in the mode of the physical workshop which the local community was also invited. Refer to the Participation in Cross-Sectoral Dialogue Report.

The outcomes of such drives have resulted in the inception of two new startups in the year 2022, one is Sangam Designs and the other is Mihir`s Coffee on Wheels. Sangam Designs is an apparel startup based on the concept of transforming waste cloth into wealth (usable apparel). It’s a women-led startup that employs differently-abled women. Mihir`s Coffee on Wheels is a mobile van inside the University that allows students (clients) to prepare their own orders themselves. Both of these startups like the other remaining 47 startups are ventures of the local community.  Please refer to the incubation report for details of the start-up and start-up ecosystem of the University.

Financial Assistance:

The University provides financial assistance to all start-ups adhering to Startup Odisha Policy 2016 (Amended in 2018). Please refer to the policy and the page number 14-16

Relevant Links

  1. Start up Odisha Policy 
  2. Incubation Report
  3. Participation in Cross-Sectoral Dialogue Report

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Graduation Completion Targets for Students

SDG 1 No Poverty

Graduation Completion Targets for Students

Centurion University ensures graduation completion targets for students through a combination of financial, academic, and support initiatives. Here are specific strategies for Indian universities:

  1. Financial Assistance:
    • Need-Based Scholarships: Offers scholarships specifically tailored to low-income students, covering tuition, fees, and living expenses. In the year 2022, a total of 3678 students benefited from scholarships out of 7020 students. 

2. Tuition Fee Flexibility:

    • Deferred Payment Plans: Allow students to pay tuition fees in installments to ease the financial burden. During the time of COVID, the University had deferred the payment by a year. Currently, the University allows all of its students to pay the tuition fee in two installments.

3. Academic Support:

    • Remedial Classes: The Deans of the school keep track of slow learners and offer remedial classes as additional support in specific subjects.

4. Mentorship and Counseling:

    • Mentorship Programs: The University has a dedicated mentorship program in place where faculty members guide and support students.

By implementing these strategies, Centurion University significantly improves the graduation rates for students, In the year 2022, the overall pass percentage of students is 80. The measures thereby contribute to social equity and reduce educational disparities.

Important Links 

  1. List of passed students 

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Enrolment of Students from the Lowest 20% of the Household Income Bracket

SDG 1 No Poverty

Enrolment of Students from the Lowest 20% of the Household Income Bracket

Centurion University targets to admit students from the lowest 20% of household income brackets. The university complies with the Government of India’s Reservation Laws, reserving a specific percentage of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.As the University is located across regional and rural areas of India, the target setting is a critical step toward promoting inclusivity and socioeconomic diversity in higher education. To accomplish this, Centurion University does the following 

  1. Financial Aid and Scholarships: The University has developed a robust financial aid system by itself and has also linked with various Government and Non-Government organizations for scholarships and grants to meet the specific needs of economically disadvantaged students.
  2. Application Fee Waivers: The University charges no tuition fee for low-income students. This encourages them to apply and explore their educational options.
  3. Support Services: The University offers comprehensive support services such as tutoring, counseling, and mentorship programs to help students from diverse backgrounds succeed academically and personally.

By implementing these strategies, Centurion University not only increases access to higher education for students from the lowest income brackets but also contributes to reducing educational inequality, fostering diversity, and promoting social mobility in India.

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Endeavours to Enhance Access to Basic Services for All

SDG 1 No Poverty

Endeavours to Enhance Access to Basic Services for All

The Urban Micro Business Centre (UMBC) is the flagship project of Centurion Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Facilitation Centre, an independent Section 8 (not for profit) Company set up in Odisha by Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), in order to inculcate enterprise and develop entrepreneurship and contribute to the University`s goal of Shaping Lives and Empowering Communities.

In 2013, the project UMBC was set up with the support of Department of Housing & Urban Development Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Ministry of Housing, Urban & Poverty Alleviation, Government of India. This model has been designed to address the poverty and livelihood challenges through nano-novo-mini-micro enterprises and entrepreneurship. It was recognized by the National Skill Development Agency, Government of India, as one of the 5 most promising models for urban poor skills and development in the country, which should be replicated in other states and taken up for support by Government Departments and agencies.

This project has been declared as, “Deakin-Centurion Centre for Social Entrepreneurs”, under the Overseas Exchange and Learning Programme of Deakin University and other Australian Universities. 

UMBC is situated in an urban slum where parents often leave their children unattended while they go to work. In response, UMBC initiated a free creche facility. Additionally, they launched a four-month training program to enhance digital literacy, encompassing learning modules, internet usage, and software applications.

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Contribution to Policy Making at All Levels to Combat Multidimensional Poverty

SDG 1 No Poverty

Contribution to Policy Making at All Levels to Combat Multidimensional Poverty.

At the Local, Regional, and National Levels

Centurion University, through its incubated units like Gram Tarang Employability Training Services (GTET), focuses on empowering individuals facing economic hardships since 2009. GTET is the National Skill Development Corporation’s largest training partner, an entity under the Government of India. Additionally, it maintains close collaboration with various State Governments, actively engaging in the implementation and shaping of policies for several government schemes.This approach, transitioning from school dropout to skill acquisition, meaningful employment, and financial stability, has proven effective for young individuals in rural India. Mr Abhinav Madan, Managing Director of GTET and Gram Tarang Vocational Education & Training, brings expertise in skill development to drive these initiatives.

In partnership with Centurion University, Gram Tarang Vocational Education and Training, another social entrepreneurial outreach of the University, addresses the “Learn and Earn” gap in India. It offers a transformative Flexi-ITI program in collaboration with the Directorate General of Training (DGT), Government of India, enabling factory workers to access integrated vocational training similar to the German TVET model. By 2023, over 10,000 trainees have benefited from this initiative, bridging the gap between work and education, providing hope, and fostering economic empowerment.

Financial inclusion is another vital aspect of Centurion University’s social mission, executed through Gram Tarang Inclusive Development Services Pvt Ltd (GTIDS), a social entrepreneurial outreach. GTIDS collaborates with 16 Public Sector Banks across 15 Indian states, achieving remarkable results such as 17 million basic accounts, Rupees 2 billion in Fixed Deposits, savings of Rupees 20 billion, and recovery of over Rupees 4 billion from non-performing assets. Under the Mudra Scheme of the Government of India, GTIDS allocated over Rupees 4 billion in Microfinance loans to more than 160,000 recipients. To support the career development of its agents, GTIDS partnered with Centurion University to introduce a three-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program specializing in Finance and Financial Inclusion, facilitating industry-integrated education.

Please refer to the Gabon Agricultural Special Economic Zone 

Relevant Links

  1. Policymaking at Global Level: Gabon Agricultural Special Economic Zone

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