Odisha to Roll Out Apprenticeship-Integrated Hospitality Degrees from 2025-26

Starting from the 2025–26 academic session, the initiative will be implemented in 22 government and aided colleges and two state universities across the state.

In a move aimed at increasing employability and real-world exposure for students, the Odisha government has announced the rollout of apprenticeship-integrated undergraduate degrees in hospitality and food science. Starting from the 2025–26 academic session, the initiative will be implemented in 22 government and aided colleges and two state universities across the state.

These degree programmes—offered as Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Hospitality, Food Science, and related fields—will include on-the-job training as an embedded component of the curriculum. The state is implementing the initiative in collaboration with the Board of Practical Training (BOPT) and various hospitality industry partners.

Each participating institution will allocate a portion of the total credit requirement (up to 20%) to apprenticeship modules, allowing students to gain practical experience in real hospitality environments such as hotels, resorts, airlines, event firms, and food production units. These credits will be treated at par with theoretical coursework and will be compulsory for degree completion.

This new model of industry-academia integration is expected to benefit both students and employers. Students gain meaningful workplace experience even before graduation, while industry partners get access to a skilled pipeline of job-ready talent.

Odisha’s hospitality sector has been growing steadily, thanks to a rising inflow of domestic and international tourists, state-backed ecotourism projects, and private sector investments. The demand for trained professionals in culinary arts, hotel management, travel operations, and event services is on the rise.

Officials from the Higher Education Department confirmed that a similar apprenticeship model is also being considered for other vocational courses, including retail and healthcare, in the near future.

Admission guidelines, seat distribution, and partner institution details for the hospitality degree programme are expected to be released later this year.