Central University of Odisha signs MoU with 4 Central Universities to boost higher Education, tribal research

The Central University of Odisha (CUO) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four Central Universities of India in a step towards advancing the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and promoting inclusive and multidisciplinary education.

The key objectives of the MoU are to promote multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary learning as envisioned in NEP 2020, enhance collaborative research and academic partnerships, encourage credit transfer, faculty exchange, and joint academic projects, support tribal empowerment, innovation, and sustainable regional development, strengthen digital education, Indian knowledge systems, and entrepreneurship and contribute towards increasing Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) and institutional capacity building, said CUO officials.

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The partnering institutions include the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad; Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh (CTUAP), Vizianagaram; Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak; and Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University (SSCTU), Telangana.

The MoU aims to foster academic and research collaborations, resource sharing, faculty and student exchanges, and joint initiatives focused on tribal studies, regional development, and socio-economic transformation.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prof N Nagaraju, Vice-Chancellor, EFLU; Prof Y L Srinivas, Vice-Chancellor, SSCTU; Prof T Srinivasan, Vice-Chancellor (I/c), CTUAP; Prof Soubhagya Ranjan Padhi, Professor, IGNTU; and Prof Narasingha Charan Panda, Vice-Chancellor (I/c), CUO.

Speaking at the event, Prof N Nagaraju emphasised the crucial role of faculty in turning MoUs into meaningful academic action. He praised the initiative for its focus on tribal research, which he described as a “potent and promising” field.

Prof T Srinivasan hailed the agreement as a “momentous occasion” and noted a shift in perspective—from educating tribal communities to learning from them. Echoing similar sentiments, Prof Y L Srinivas shared that SSCTU has already established a tribal centre and is undertaking a funded nine-month collaborative research project.

Prof S R Padhi elaborated on the tribal populations in Amarkantak and other regions of Madhya Pradesh, underlining the scope of research opportunities the MoU presents under NEP 2020.

In his presidential address, Prof N C Panda expressed gratitude to the partner universities for their commitment and participation. He revealed that the idea for the MoU stemmed from discussions during Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s visit to CUO in July 2025. Prof Panda emphasised the potential of the MoU to drive impactful research and policy-making aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities.