BPUT, OKCL Sign MoU to Offer Internships Across 1,000 Centres in Odisha

Bhubaneswar (Odiha Tazanews) :- Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT), a premier State Government technical university headquartered in Rourkela, on 26^th February ,Thursday, signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL), a Government of Odisha-promoted Special Purpose Vehicle under the Electronics & IT Department, to strengthen digital skilling, internship opportunities and industry integration for students across the State.

The MoU was signed during the Award Ceremony of BPUT Tech Carnival 2025 at the Railway Auditorium here by Prof. (Dr.) Amiya Kumar Rath, Vice Chancellor of BPUT, and Dr. Manoranjan Puthal, Managing Director of OKCL, in the presence of academicians, industry representatives and students.

A major highlight of the collaboration is that students of BPUT and its affiliated colleges will now be able to undertake structured internships at more than 1,000 OKCL network centres spread across Odisha. The initiative is expected to make practical training accessible to students from all sections across the State, with particular benefit to those studying in rural and semi-urban institutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr.) Amiya Kumar Rath said the partnership would help integrate academic learning with industry-oriented skill development. “This MoU will enable our students to gain hands-on experience while pursuing their degrees. It will significantly enhance their employability and readiness for emerging career opportunities,” he said.

Dr. Manoranjan Puthal stated that OKCL’s extensive network and technology-enabled training systems would ensure quality and scalability. “Our objective is to provide structured, industry-aligned internship and skilling programs that are accessible across districts. This collaboration will bridge the gap between classroom education and real-world application,” he said.

Under the agreement, students can enroll in internship and certification programs in emerging and high-demand areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Software Development, Digital Marketing, Banking and Financial Services (BFSI), Retail Management and other digital domains.

The MoU also provides for recognition of selected skilling programs as credit-based or minor courses in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework. In addition to internships, the collaboration includes the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in advanced technology domains at selected affiliated institutions, focusing on innovation, project-based learning and applied research.

The agreement further aims to strengthen BPUT’s Central Placement Cell (OJOB) through structured digital processes and enhanced industry linkages. Placement drives, employer engagement initiatives and digital recruitment support are expected to be streamlined under the partnership.

Large-scale digital literacy and mass skilling initiatives for students and the wider community are also part of the three -year vision outlined in the MoU. Officials said the collaboration is expected to benefit more than one lakh fifty thousand of students annually and contribute significantly to building a future-ready, digitally skilled workforce in Odisha.