Odisha’s Higher Education Department enabled over 1.18 lakh undergraduate students to undertake six-week internships and community service in 2025–26 across government offices, institutions, NGOs and private organisations.

Bhubaneswar: More than 1.18 lakh undergraduate students from institutions under Odisha’s Higher Education Department were provided internship and community service opportunities during the academic year 2025–26, marking a significant step towards integrating classroom learning with real-world exposure.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that the students were offered six-week internship and community service opportunities as part of the academic framework aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and University Grants Commission guidelines.

According to an official statement from the Higher Education Department, internship opportunities were facilitated across a wide range of organisations and public service institutions, including government offices, educational institutions, anganwadi centres, block offices, health centres, private organisations and NGOs working with government departments.

Under the programme, undergraduate students are required to undertake internships and community service in their fourth semester. The Higher Education Department has issued separate guidelines for implementation of the internship initiative.

Students will earn academic credits based on multiple parameters, including attendance, presentations, weekly reports and overall performance during the internship period. These credits will be reflected in the students’ Academic Bank of Credits, strengthening the academic value of practical learning.

The minister also said that students will receive certificates after successful completion of the internship programme.

The highest participation in the internship programme during the year was recorded from Ganjam, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack and Balangir districts.

The initiative is expected to provide students with direct exposure to field-level governance, public service delivery and institutional functioning. By working with government bodies, local administration, educational institutions, health centres, NGOs and private organisations, students will gain practical understanding of how academic knowledge is applied in real-world environments.

Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said higher educational institutions are being encouraged to prioritise quality learning and research-focused education. Through internship and community service opportunities, students will be able to understand grassroots-level functioning and administrative processes more effectively.

He added that internships in government institutions, private industries and NGOs will help students gain first-hand knowledge of professional environments. The exposure is also expected to support future employment prospects and entrepreneurship opportunities.

The large-scale internship initiative reflects the growing emphasis on skill-based and experiential learning in higher education. By connecting academic curriculum with field experience, the programme aims to improve student readiness for employment, public service, community engagement and entrepreneurship.

The move also aligns with the broader goals of NEP 2020, which promotes multidisciplinary education, practical exposure, skill development and closer linkages between higher education and the world of work.

For Odisha, the initiative represents an important model for strengthening the transition from classroom-based education to career-oriented learning, especially for students in undergraduate programmes across districts.