Bhubaneswar: In a landmark move aimed at making higher education more inclusive and accessible, the Odisha Government’s Higher Education Department on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi.
The agreement will enable IGNOU to offer a wide range of academic and vocational courses in the Odia language.
According to an official press release, the MoU was formally signed at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar, attended by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who hailed the initiative as a historic milestone in Odisha’s education landscape. “With this MoU, language will no longer remain a barrier to education. Students can now pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and professional courses like BBA and MBA in their mother tongue,” said the Minister.
He added that the initiative is in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for the promotion of regional languages in education. By enabling instruction in Odia, the government aims to foster creativity among students, reduce dropout rates, and improve the Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education across the state.
Students from across Odisha—from Balasore to Malkangiri—joined the event virtually and applauded the move. Many expressed that studying in their mother tongue would make learning more engaging and accessible.
The agreement also opens doors for Odia-medium programs in vocational education, travel and tourism management, and other skill-oriented disciplines, significantly expanding opportunities for learners in rural and tribal areas of the state.
Also present at the event were Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Higher Education Arvind Agrawal, Special Secretary Ramakant Nayak, IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Uma Kanjilal, and Registrar Dr. Alok Chaube. The dignitaries emphasized the transformative potential of this partnership in strengthening education equity and outreach.
