The Department of Industrial Relations & Personnel Management has established in the year 1967 and the unique distinction of being the first teaching department of the university besides being first of its kind in the State of Orissa. The changes brought about in its course structure and its nomenclature from Labour and Social Welfare to Industrial Relations and Labour Welfare and then to Industrial Relations and Personnel Management justify its vision that it changes with the changing times. It imparts instructions and practical skills in the fields of Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management and Development, Labour Legislation, Labour Welfare, and Organizational Behaviour. To equip its students with latest developments in the areas of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, the department has introduced courses in International Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Organizational Change and Development.
The Department offers two years master's degree and one year M.Phil degree courses. It is a recognized institution for pursuing doctoral research. It is the pioneer in examination reforms in terms of introducing semester and mid-semester examinations incorporating a system of continuous evaluation and feedback. As the Department offers professional course, the learning pedagogy used includes theoretical instructions, case analysis, seminar presentations, and management games. Field- work internship has been the main stay of the department since its inception for providing practical training to the students.
The Post Graduate Degree of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management has been recognized by the Central and State Governments for the purpose of appointment as Welfare Officers under the Factories Act, 1948 and Mines Act, 1952. The Alumni profile of the department is quite rich, as over the last four decades its products have adorned high positions as HR executives in different industrial organizations, Government organizations, Banks, and Non-Governmental organizations. and as academicians in different universities and business schools.
The Department has a consistently good placement record. Every year on an average about 50 per cent of its products get placed in different organisations both Public and Private sectors.