Odisha Higher Education Dept Launches AI, Skill Development & Performance Evaluation Initiatives

The Odisha Higher Education Department has unveiled a series of transformative initiatives aimed at boosting student and faculty skills through collaborations with leading organisations.

On Teachers’ Day, the department signed MoUs with CSR Box, Nandi Foundation, and OKCL, while also launching the ‘AI Course for All’ in partnership with NASSCOM. Additionally, exposure visits with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, and new portals for academic performance evaluation and question banks were introduced.

Key highlights include:

- IBM–CSR Box MoU: Skill development for over 1.25 lakh students across arts, science, and commerce streams, covering AI, digital literacy, design thinking, and project management through online courses, workshops, and project‑based learning. Special focus will be given to students from 107 institutions in aspirational districts. Faculty AI skill development is also prioritised.

- Nandi Foundation MoU: Offline training for final‑year girl students in UG and PG courses, focusing on financial literacy, critical thinking, public speaking, and communication skills to enhance employability.

- OKCL MoU: Digital training modules including a 30‑hour communication skills programme, a 10‑hour AI course for students, and a 5‑hour AI orientation course for teachers.

- NASSCOM Partnership: Launch of ‘AI Course for All’, targeting over 1 lakh students and faculty statewide through online AI courses.

- EDII Collaboration: A Faculty Mentor Development Programme for 40 teachers, offering six days of training in entrepreneurship, mentoring, and enterprise development tools to strengthen the startup ecosystem in higher education institutions.

- Performance Evaluation & Question Bank Portal: Academic performance of institutions will be assessed using 52 KPIs across four pillars—students, faculty, infrastructure, and activities. The question bank portal, aligned with NEP 2020 and National Credit Framework standards, will ensure quality in exam papers and skill assessment.

Officials said these initiatives mark a significant step toward building a future‑ready education ecosystem in Odisha, empowering both students and faculty with cutting‑edge skills.

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