Dharmendra Pradhan lays foundation stone for RISHI building at OSOU

Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation stone for the Residential Internship and Skill Hub for Industry (RISHI) building at the Odisha State Open University (OSOU) in Sambalpur. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic degrees and employability by providing students with practical training aligned with industrial requirements.

During the event, Pradhan launched two new courses: ‘Self-Health Care and Wellness’ for youth and ‘AI Tools for Collaborative Learning’ for teachers. He emphasized the need to move away from a mindset that prioritizes degrees over practical skills, noting that global supply chain disruptions have impacted employment. He encouraged the youth to become job creators rather than just job seekers.

Pradhan also noted the growth of OSOU, which has expanded to approximately 40,000 students following government infrastructure support under the PM-USHA scheme. He expressed intentions to develop Sambalpur into a skill laboratory to support the state's large youth population.