KIIT, IGNCA sign MoU to strengthen arts, cultural studies and heritage preservation
By Swagatika Mohapatra
Bhubaneswar, Oct. 28: The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to strengthen academic engagement in arts, culture and architecture and promote the preservation of India’s cultural heritage.
The MoU was signed on Wednesday at KIIT Campus 6, marking a significant step towards fostering collaboration in cultural studies, archival research and the digitisation of historical documents related to Indian history.
Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA, signed the agreement on behalf of the institution, while KIIT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saranjit Singh signed on behalf of the university. KIIT and KISS Founder Dr Achyuta Samanta was present at the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Joshi expressed gratitude for the initiative and appreciated KIIT’s contributions to education and cultural activities. He said the collaboration would benefit students pursuing studies in arts, culture and allied disciplines, particularly in a state like Odisha, which is renowned for its rich cultural heritage.
The partnership, he said, would open up opportunities for new projects in cultural documentation and archiving. He also acknowledged Dr Samanta’s contributions to art and culture, alongside his work in the field of education.
Describing the agreement as a historic step in the advancement of arts and cultural studies, KIIT Senior Director General Prof. Soumyendu Shankar Ray said the collaboration would facilitate academic exchange and research programmes involving students and faculty members of the two institutions.
As part of the ceremony, Dr Joshi presented a copy of his book, The Cultural Renaissance, to KIIT-KISS Founder Dr Samanta.
The MoU envisages exploring joint academic programmes, collaborative research projects and other initiatives aimed at advancing knowledge in arts, culture and architecture. A key focus of the partnership will be the digitisation of historical archival materials, which is expected to strengthen efforts towards preserving, documenting and disseminating India’s cultural heritage.
The collaboration is also expected to create new academic opportunities for students and researchers while fostering closer institutional ties between higher education and cultural organisations.
Among those present at the event were Dr Abhay Mishra and Shankarjeet Dey from IGNCA; KIIT Pro-Vice-Chancellors Prof. Debashis Bandyopadhyay and Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty; and Padma Shri Adwaita Gadanayak, Director General of KIIT Art Academy.
