Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) has signed an MoU with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, paving way for its students to engage directly with the United Nations and serve as National UN volunteers across various UN agencies.
This initiative is the first of its kind for a private university in South Asia, a KIIT release said.
The MoU was exchanged between Country Coordinator, UN Volunteers, India, Sushil Chaudhury and Vice Chancellor, KIIT DU, Saranjit Singh in presence of Founder, KIIT & KISS Achyuta Samanta, UN Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp, and Chief of Staff at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) Radhika Kaul Batra.
Sharp highlighted the importance of lifelong learning and praised Samanta for his vision and efforts in providing holistic education to children in Odisha and beyond. He also congratulated KIIT on its numerous accolades, including a prestigious UNESCO award, and commended the institute for emphasising education in the mother tongue, which plays a crucial role in preserving culture and enhancing learning experiences.
Samanta said that this partnership will provide young people with first-hand experience and enable them to contribute to sustainable development efforts alongside UN partners and local communities. “It will also be an opportunity for them to gain valuable professional experience in international development, shaping their future career paths,” he added.
