Koraput, Aug 21: The Central University of Odisha (CUO), in association with the Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Union Ministry of Education organised an apprenticeship-cum-job fair for undergraduate students at the University campus in Sunabeda.

The programme was coordinated by the Department of Business Management, CUO, with the objective of creating a meaningful platform for students and young job seekers to interact directly with leading industries and employers and explore opportunities for apprenticeship and employment.

Prof (Dr.) Ajit Kumar Shasany, CUO Vice Chancellor extended his warm wishes to the initiative reaffirming the university’s commitment to promoting skill development, apprenticeship, industry engagement and employment opportunities for the youth of Odisha, particularly those from Koraput and the surrounding tribal and remote regions. 

The programme commenced with an inaugural session attended by representatives of the participating organisations, government officials, university authorities, faculty members, students and candidates.

The inaugural programme was attended by Basant Kumar Naik, Chief Manager, Learning &Development, HAL, Sunabeda. He encouraged the participating candidates to make effective use of the opportunities available through industry-academia interaction and skill-oriented career pathways.

Sushmita Ghosh, Assistant Director & Assistant Central Apprenticeship Advisor, Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Upendra Dip, District Skill Development-cum-Employment Officer and Dr Minati Sahoo, Head, Department of Business Management and Coordinator of the event were also present.

The dignitaries highlighted the importance of industry-academia collaboration, skill development and apprenticeship opportunities in enhancing the employability of young graduates.

The fair provided a valuable platform for students and young job seekers to interact directly with leading organisations, explore apprenticeship opportunities and seek employment prospects. Around 200 candidates from Jayapur, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Semiliguda, Damanjodi, Umerkote, Raighar, Bhawanipatna and Berhampur participated in the fair. Several reputed organisations participated in the recruitment and apprenticeship drive, including NALCO, HAL, Kamalini Associates, SLV Securities, IMFA, GTVT, SAIL Rourkela, Herald Manpower, Annapurna Finance and Oriental.

The participating companies interacted with the candidates and assessed them for various apprenticeship and employment opportunities. The fair also enabled students to understand the recruitment process, eligibility requirements, workplace expectations and career opportunities available across different sectors.

The occasion underscored the importance of coordinated efforts among higher educational institutions, government agencies, skill development institutions and industries in strengthening the employability of young people. The DBM Faculty team coordinating the event included Dr Padma Charan Mishra, Dr Subhas Chandra Pattanayak, Dr Sitanath Raiguru, Dr Palash Bairagi and Dr Nitin Hota.