Sambalpur, July 6: Odisha State Open University (OSOU), Sambalpur on Saturday rolled out “Anveshan: Centre for Advanced Vocational Growth along with professional programs on Health & Wellness on its11th Foundation Day.
The celebration witnessed the inauguration of "Anveshan: Centre for Advanced Vocational Growth", the signing of strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), the felicitation of distinguished alumni, and the unveiling of the University's future roadmap for digital education and skill development. The certificate course on self-health care & Wellness was also launched.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Mridula T. Pradhan, inaugurated the Anveshan: Centre for Advanced Vocational Growth in the presence of Prof. Shyam Sundar Pattnaik, Vice-Chancellor, OSOU.
The occasion was graced by eminent dignitaries including Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur; Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad; Prof. Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU; Prof. Shyama Rath, Member Secretary, AICTE; Er. Jagannath Prasad Nayak, President & Unit Head, Aditya Aluminium; Shri Parveen Verma, CEO, TPWODL; Dr. Chittaranjan Sahu, Registrar, OSOU; Dr. Uma Charan Pati, Controller of Examinations; and Mrs. Pinky Seth, OFS-I (JB), Comptroller of Finance and Staff and faculty members.
The newly established Anveshan: Centre for Advanced Vocational Growth aims to serve as a centre of excellence for vocational education, advanced skill development, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration. The Centre will offer training and certification in emerging technologies like AI, Cybersecurity, Animation, Visual effect, Gamming,Comicsand future-oriented disciplines to enhance employability, particularly among youth, women, and learners from rural communities.
During the Foundation Day programme, Dr. Chittaranjan Sahu, Registrar, OSOU, presented the University's Annual Report, highlighting the institution's achievements in academic expansion, digital learning, research, learner support, examination reforms, skill development initiatives, community outreach, and national collaborations. The report also outlined OSOU's vision for strengthening technology-enabled education and lifelong learning opportunities.
A major highlight of the celebration was the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading academic and industry partners. The University entered into collaborations with IGNOU for academic and research cooperation, Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL) for digital learning and skill development, TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL), for industry-academia collaboration and workforce developmentandwithDAMITSfor academic collaboration. These partnerships are expected to create greater opportunities for learners through collaborative programmes, research, internships, and skill-based education.
Recognising excellence among its learners, OSOU also felicitated distinguished alumni who successfully qualified for prestigious government services, including the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) and the Odisha Finance Service (OFS). Their achievements were celebrated as an inspiration for the University's learner community.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest Dr. Mridula T. Pradhan emphasises on the expanding role of open & Distance education including online education for enhancing GER and Employability.
Addressing the media, Prof. Shyam Sundar Pattnaik, Vice-Chancellor, outlined the University's strategic roadmap towards becoming a leader in AI-enabled, technology-driven open and distance education. He announced five key focus areas that will guide OSOU's future initiatives:
Prof. Pattnaik said, the varsity with the new programs will be supporting Viksit BharatPradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana through skill development programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AR/VR).
The varsity will be a lighthouse in empowering youth and women through emerging digital technologies and digital literacy programmes. Similarly, launching the AI-Empowered Teacher Initiative to train educators in Artificial Intelligence tools for enhancing teaching quality in line with SDG 4 – Quality Education will provide a new teaching learning environment for the learners and beneficiaries.
The VC also said that the present collaboration will help strengthening women-led governance through digital capacity-building programmes for women and the workforce.
Apart from it, promoting the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics) sector will enhance creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities for young learners.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that these initiatives align with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Digital India, Skill India, and Viksit Bharat @2047, positioning OSOU as a catalyst for educational transformation and sustainable development.
Member Secretary AICTE Prof. Shyama Rath mainly focuses on transformation in technical education while Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director IIT Dhanbad and Prof. B. Meitri Director IIM Nagpur placed their views on global opportunity in the technical as well as Management Scenario. Both the industry giants president of Adity Aluminium Sh. J.P. Nayak and CEO of TPWODL Sh. P. Verma extended their support for industry Collaboration.
The celebrations concluded with a vibrant cultural programme featuring captivating performances by UDAAN, Sambalpur, followed by cultural presentations by the children of Kardola Village, one of the villages adopted by OSOU under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. The performances beautifully showcased Odisha's rich cultural heritage while reflecting the University's commitment to rural development, social inclusion, and community engagement.
The 11th Foundation Day celebrations marked another significant milestone in OSOU's journey of empowering learners through accessible, affordable, and future-ready education. With the launch of Anveshan, strategic partnerships with premier institutions and industry leaders, and a clear vision for AI-driven and skill-based education, the University reaffirmed its commitment to preparing learners for the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly evolving digital era.
