Education | The Indian Express
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha, to offer its academic programmes in the Odia language. The move is aimed at expanding access to higher education among Odia-speaking learners, especially in rural and tribal regions, by removing language as a barrier.
The MoU was signed in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Uma Kanjilal. Senior officials, faculty members, and students also attended the event.
Under the agreement, IGNOU will translate and deliver a wide portfolio of programmes in Odia, including undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate-level courses. The initiative will cover core disciplines such as:
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes: BA in Sociology, Political Science, History, Economics, and Public Administration
Postgraduate Programmes: MA in Education, Rural Development, Public Administration, Hindi, and Social Work
Diploma Programmes: Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education, Tourism Studies, Nutrition and Health Education
Certificate Courses: Certificate in Functional English, Environmental Studies, Food and Nutrition, and Rural Development
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IGNOU will provide the complete academic delivery ecosystem in Odia, including printed and digital study materials, counselling sessions, learner support services, and evaluation components. Translation and content development work is expected to be carried out in coordination with subject matter experts and language specialists.
The initiative aligns with the multilingual education goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is expected to contribute to increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Odisha. It also sets a precedent for similar collaborations in other states to promote education in regional languages.
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