Bhubaneswar: In a step toward making higher education more inclusive and accessible, the Higher Education department Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
Under the agreement, various academic programmes offered by IGNOU — including undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and vocational courses such as BBA, MBA, and travel and tourism management — will now be available in the Odia language.
According to an official press release, the MoU was formally signed at a ceremony here, attended by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who hailed the initiative as a historic milestone in Odisha’s education landscape.
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“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. Minister Suryabanshi stated that offering higher education in the mother tongue will help realise the goal of inclusive learning.
Studying in one’s native language can enhance creativity, reduce dropout rates, and significantly boost the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education,” he said.
“The initiative will ensure ‘Education for All’ and ‘Higher Education for All’. In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, priority is being given to offering education and academic content in the mother tongue,” the minister added.
Students from various colleges and universities across the state, from Balasore to Malkangiri, participated in the event virtually. They welcomed the initiative and expressed that many students will benefit from this step toward making higher education more accessible.
The event was attended by the Higher Education Commissioner and Principal Secretary Arvind Agrawal, Independent Secretary Ramakant Nayak, IGNOU VC Uma Kanjilal, and Registrar Alok Chaubey, among others.
PNN
