The Higher Education Department has been playing the pivotal role in improving the quality of education in the State, establishing a value based society and moulding the youth to meet the challenges of 21st Century. The opening up of institutions of national repute like IIT, IIIT & NISER in the State has not only made the State of Odisha an educational hub but also thrown open some challenges and opportunities before the Higher Education Department. To meet those challenges and make the best use of opportunities, the Higher Education Department has all out efforts to strengthen the existing educational system and simultaneously taken innovative steps to open up new avenues for the students by imparting need based market oriented education.