Koraput, July 5: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation stone for a major infrastructure project and inaugurated several new facilities at the Central University of Odisha (CUO) here on Saturday, marking a transformative chapter in the region’s educational landscape.

The newly launched facilities include a state-of-the-art Academic Building, a modern Health Centre, the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, and residential quarters for officers and staff. These developments aim to provide world-class learning and living environments for students and faculty alike.

In a historic move, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among six premier centrally funded institutions in Odisha—CUO, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIM Sambalpur, NIT Rourkela, IISER Berhampur, and National Sanskrit University, Puri. This collaboration will promote interdisciplinary research, student and faculty exchange, and shared academic resources, aligning with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The initiative is expected to empower tribal and rural communities, enhance digital and entrepreneurial education, and foster inclusive growth.

Minister Pradhan emphasized that this effort will not only elevate CUO’s academic stature but also fulfill the aspirations of Odisha’s youth by offering global-standard education and career opportunities.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Surya Banshi Suraj; Minister of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Gokul Nanda Mallik; School and Mass Education Minister, Nityananda Gond; Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka; Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi, MLAs Raghu Ram Machha, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Gauri Shankar Majhi and Narasing Bhatra along with senior officials from the Ministry of Education and UGC.

Earlier in the day, Pradhan visited the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility at Sunabeda in Koraput district and urged the HAL authority to invest in STEM Labs across schools in Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, and Rayagada. Additionally, he encouraged collaboration between HAL, IIT Madras, and Central University of Odisha to roll out Diploma/UG programs in aerospace, defence and allied sectors.

The Union Minister also joined thousands of devotees attending the holy Bahuda Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings at "Shabara Shrikshetra" Koraput.

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