Dikhyaa Mohanty 
As part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 project, some 200 students from different higher education institutions in Odisha are now interning at the Odisha State Museum with the goal of encouraging experiential learning in historical and cultural studies. Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture, visited the State Museum on Sunday and discussed the current internship program. He visited many exhibitions and spoke with the student interns working in the museum’s various sections.
Under the Higher Education Department’s internship program, undergraduate students are placed in both public and private institutions to get real-world experience. The interns of the Odisha State Museum work in a variety of disciplines, including books, arts and crafts, archaeology, and ancient coins. The Minister talked on the significance of protecting and promoting Odisha’s rich cultural legacy, which includes its monuments, artifacts, inscriptions, and indigenous art forms. Additionally, he emphasized the need of promoting high-caliber historical and archaeological research.
Odisha’s art, culture, legacy, and architecture, according to Suraj, are a source of pride and have greatly influenced the state’s unique character. He went on to say that via study and creativity, young people have a critical role in recording, conserving, and bringing this legacy to a worldwide audience. The Minister pointed out that the internship program enables students to go beyond classroom instruction and have hands-on experience with authentic historical and cultural resources. According to him, these programs boost interest in historical studies and contribute in the development of academic abilities.
