Bhubaneswar: Odisha is preparing to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based learning into higher education, marking a major shift towards skill-oriented education and digital preparedness for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The initiative is part of the Higher Education Department’s broader masterplan to equip young learners with industry-relevant skills and improve their competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global job market.
The programme will combine AI education with digital literacy, entrepreneurship, design thinking and professional skills, with the government also focusing on strengthening the startup ecosystem within higher educational institutions.
Three MoUs Signed to Promote AI and Skill Development
To accelerate the initiative, the Odisha Higher Education Department has entered into three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with organisations working in technology, skill development and entrepreneurship.
The partnerships involve CSR Box, Nandi Foundation, Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL) and NASSCOM, with the objective of expanding access to AI-based learning and creating more opportunities for students to develop practical, employment-oriented skills.
The government believes such collaborations can help bridge the gap between conventional academic education and the changing requirements of the technology-driven economy.
‘AI Course for All’ to Train 1.25 Lakh Students and Teachers
Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that the partnership with NASSCOM will facilitate the ‘AI Course for All’ programme.
Under the initiative, approximately 1.25 lakh students and teachers from Arts, Science and Commerce streams are expected to receive online training. The programme will cover areas such as Artificial Intelligence, digital literacy, enterprise design thinking and project management.
The minister said the programme is designed to reach students beyond major urban centres, with learners from 107 higher educational institutions located in remote and aspirational districts also being brought under the skill development initiative.
The large-scale training programme is expected to provide students with an early understanding of emerging technologies and their applications across different academic and professional fields.
Focus on Employability and Professional Skills
The government’s plan is not limited to AI-related technical training. Special offline programmes will also be conducted for final-year female undergraduate and postgraduate students.
These programmes will focus on practical skills such as financial literacy, critical thinking, effective communication and public speaking. The objective is to help students become more confident and better prepared for higher education, employment and professional environments.
Such skill-based interventions are expected to complement students’ academic qualifications and improve their readiness for an increasingly competitive workforce.
Special AI Training Planned for Teachers
Teachers will also be part of the capacity-building programme. As part of the specialised training initiative, 40 teachers will undergo a six-day AI training programme at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) in Ahmedabad.
The training is expected to help educators understand emerging AI tools and incorporate technology-driven learning approaches into the classroom. Building teacher capacity is also considered important for ensuring that AI education can be sustained across institutions rather than remaining limited to short-term student programmes.
Students Welcome Government’s AI Initiative
Students at FM University have welcomed the government’s move to introduce more technology and professional skills into higher education.
Plus 3 student Akash Behera described the initiative as a positive step and expressed the hope that similar training opportunities would continue beyond graduation and remain available to students pursuing higher studies.
Another student, Arundhati Padhi, said such programmes could help learners understand professional courses, acquire useful knowledge and make better preparations for their future careers.
New Portals to Assess Academic Performance
Alongside the AI and skill-development initiatives, the government has also launched the Academic Performance Assessment Portal and the Question Bank Portal.
The platforms are intended to support the assessment of the performance of higher educational institutions, teachers and students. The digital tools are expected to strengthen academic monitoring and contribute to more systematic evaluation within the higher education system.
Implementation to Determine the Impact
With the MoUs now signed and multiple training initiatives announced, the next major challenge will be effective implementation across Odisha’s higher educational institutions.
The success of the programme will depend on how quickly AI-based learning reaches students and teachers, particularly in institutions located in remote and aspirational districts. If implemented effectively, the initiative could help Odisha’s higher education system move beyond traditional degree-based learning towards a more skill-driven, technology-oriented and industry-ready model.
The inclusion of AI, digital literacy, entrepreneurship and professional skills reflects the growing importance of preparing students for a job market increasingly shaped by emerging technologies.
