Koaput: In a significant move to advance the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and promote inclusive and multidisciplinary education, the Central University of Odisha (CUO) signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four Central Universities on Monday.
The partnering institutions are 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, signed at SUO’s Sunabeda campus in Koraput, 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.
Signed in the presence of distinguished academic leaders, the pact aims to foster academic collaboration, resource sharing, and innovative research, with a special focus on tribal studies, regional development, and socio-economic transformation, CUO said in a statement.
The ceremony was graced by Prof N. Nagaraju, Vice-Chancellor of EFLU; Prof YL Srinivas, Vice-Chancellor of SSCTU; Prof T Srinivasan, Vice-Chancellor (I/c) of CTUAP; Prof Soubhagya Ranjan Padhi, Professor at IGNTU; and Prof Narasingha Charan Panda, Vice-Chancellor (I/c) of CUO.
The MoU outlines key objectives, including promoting multidisciplinary learning, encouraging faculty and student exchanges, supporting credit transfers, and fostering joint research projects. It also emphasises digital education, Indian knowledge systems, entrepreneurship, and sustainable regional development to empower tribal communities and increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).
Prof N Nagaraju underscored the pivotal role of faculty in translating the MoU into impactful academic outcomes, describing tribal research as a “potent and promising” field. Prof T Srinivasan called the agreement a “momentous occasion,” advocating for a shift from educating tribal communities to learning from their rich knowledge systems. Prof. Y. L. Srinivas shared that SSCTU has already established a tribal centre and is engaged in a funded nine-month collaborative research project, reinforcing the MoU’s potential. Prof. S. R. Padhi highlighted the vast research opportunities in tribal regions like Amarkantak, aligning with NEP 2020’s vision.
In his presidential address, Prof N C Panda said the MoU was inspired by discussions during Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s visit to CUO in July 2025. He expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to drive research and policy-making for tribal socio-economic upliftment.