Orissa School of Engineering, Cuttack was established in the year 1923. Prior to 1923 the students of Orissa were going to Patna for their engineering study in Bihar School of Engineering. Orissa School of Engineering was established in the year 1923 under Bihar Orissa Government. The Engineering School was having 2 years sub overseer course in Civil Engineering with an intake of 40 but the admission was restricted to 20 only. In 1925, the institute produced Ist. batch of sub overseer in Civil Engineering. The institute was raised to the status of Diploma institution in the year 1926 and introduced 3 years diploma course in Civil Engineering. In the year 1927 Technical Apprenticeship course of 5 years duration was introduced. In 1932-33 Mechanical Apprenticeship course was substituted by Industrial Diploma course.

With the outbreak of 2nd. World War and followed by War time construction and post War re-construction, Engineering School trained more than 1000 people as War Technicians, demobilized soldiers and industrial workers. During the Japanese aggression in 1942 when Cuttack was under order of evacuation and air-raid precaution and black out, the Orissa School of Engineering was running day and night in three shifts to produce technicians.

In the year 1947 Diploma courses in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, combined diploma course was introduced and in 1962 this combined diploma course was separated and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering independent diploma courses were introduced. All India Council of Technical Education made certain radical suggestions for re-orientation of Technical Education during 1971.
Change of scenario and introduction of modernisation, it was felt necessary to generate manpower in specialized areas to meet the industrial demand. Accordingly in 1971, diversified courses were introduced under Technical Education. Diploma courses in Automobile Engineering and Instrumentation & control Engg. were introduced in this institution.

WORLD BANK ASSISTED TECHNICIAN EDUCATION PROJECT

The institute was covered under World Bank assisted Technician Education project, implemented from Dec 1990 to Dec 1998. Under the Project the institute was strengthened in Quality improvement, Capacity Expansion and Efficiency improvement.

Orissa School of Engineering was renamed as Bhubanananda Orissa School of Engineering after "Bhubanananda Das" in the year 1986.