The Central University of Odisha (CUO) in Koraput is gearing up for a landmark event on July 5, 2025, as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visits to advance the university’s infrastructure and academic collaborations. The visit marks a significant step in elevating CUO’s role in Odisha’s educational ecosystem, aligning with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
During his visit, Pradhan will lay the foundation stone for a major infrastructure development project and inaugurate several new facilities, including an Academic Building, a Health Centre, the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, Officers’ Quarters, and Staff Quarters. These developments are expected to enhance the university’s capacity to deliver quality education and support its growing community.
A highlight of the event will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among six prominent centrally funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Odisha: CUO, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIM Sambalpur, NIT Rourkela, IISER Berhampur, and Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri. This collaborative initiative aims to foster multidisciplinary education, research, and innovation. The MoU focuses on key objectives such as promoting interdisciplinary research, facilitating resource sharing, enabling credit transfers, and encouraging faculty and student exchanges. It also emphasizes empowering tribal and local communities through sustainable and inclusive growth, enhancing digital education, promoting entrepreneurship, and integrating Indian knowledge systems.
The event will see the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Nityananda Gond, Cabinet Minister for SSEPD, ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, and School & Mass Education, Odisha; Gokulananda Mallik, Minister of State for Fisheries & Animal Resources Development and MSME; Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of State for Odia Language, Higher Education, and Sports; Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, MP from Koraput; Balabhadra Majhi, MP from Nabarangpur; and several MLAs from the undivided Koraput district. Senior officials – Vineet Joshi, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Education and Chairman, UGC, and S.K. Barnwal, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, will also attend.
