Bhubaneswar: More than 118,000 students from various institutions under the higher education department were provided six-week internship and community service opportunities in the academic year 2025-26, minister Suryabanshi Suraj said on Friday.
According to an official statement from the higher education department, internships were arranged across government offices, educational institutions, anganwadi centres, block offices, health centres, private organisations, and non-governmental organisations working under government departments.
Internship Programme Details
The undergraduate students are required to undertake internships and community services in their fourth semester, in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and University Grants Commission guidelines. The higher education department has released separate guidelines for the internship programme.
“Students will earn academic credits based on attendance, presentations, weekly reports and overall performance during the internship. These credits will be reflected in the students’ Academic Bank of Credits. The students will also be awarded certificates after completing the internship,” the higher education minister said.
He added that the highest internship participation this year was from Ganjam, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, and Balangir districts.
Focus on Quality and Practical Exposure
“The higher educational institutions are being encouraged to prioritise quality and research-focused learning. Through internships and community service, students will gain practical exposure. They will be able to understand grassroots-level functioning and administrative processes,” he said.
The minister further said that internships in government institutions, private industries, and NGOs would give students a first-hand understanding of how their academic curriculum is applied in real-world settings, supporting future employment prospects and entrepreneurship opportunities.
