Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Wednesday announced that 22 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will be upgraded into Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in partnership with Tata Technologies at a project cost of Rs779 crore. The move is aimed at modernising technical education infrastructure and aligning skill development programmes with emerging industry requirements.
Four strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also exchanged at the World Skill Center in the presence of the Industries, Skill Development, and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain to strengthen the State’s skilling ecosystem.
Addressing the event, the minister said preparing youth to meet industry demands remains a core priority of the government. He emphasised that skill development is not merely a welfare initiative but an economic strategy designed to drive inclusive growth and enhance global competitiveness.
Under the initiative, the upgraded ITIs will focus on advanced sectors such as electric vehicles, robotics, Internet of Things, 3D printing, advanced CNC and VMC machining, automation, and Industry 4.0 technologies. The programme will include five years of industry handholding along with structured placement support to ensure better employment outcomes for students, the Skill Development and Technical Education Department said in a post on X.
During the occasion, agreements were also formalised with UNICEF to facilitate digital skilling and placement opportunities for more than 2,000 girls through the YouthHub platform, promoting inclusive participation in the workforce. The World Skill Center partnered with Kawasaki Robotics India to enhance training in robotics and automation, while another agreement with Atreya Global aims to create structured overseas employment pathways in Germany and other European countries.
Officials said these collaborations are expected to modernise training systems, expand job opportunities, and empower youth with industry-relevant skills, moving the state closer to its vision of economic growth and sustainable development.
