In a major step towards promoting regional language education, the Odisha Higher Education Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to offer various higher education programmes in Odia.
The collaboration will allow students across Odisha to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and professional courses — including BBA, MBA, and travel and tourism management — in their mother tongue.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who was present at the signing ceremony on Monday, said, “Through this MoU, our students can now pursue higher education in Odia. Language should not be a barrier to learning.”
The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP), which promotes education in regional languages to improve access and inclusivity. Minister Suraj added that the move is expected to boost creativity, reduce dropout rates, and raise Odisha’s gross enrolment ratio in higher education.
Key officials at the MoU signing included Higher Education Secretary Arvind Agarwal, Special Secretary Ramakant Nayak, IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uma Kanjilal, and Registrar Dr. Alok Chaubey.
This agreement marks a landmark effort to democratize education in Odisha and bring professional and academic learning closer to the state’s cultural roots.
