OPA Takes Seat on KU Board/Committee to Revolutionize Printing Curriculum and Student Training

In a pioneering move to fuse industry expertise with higher education, the Offset Printers' Association (OPA), signed a transformative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Mass Communication & Media Technology (IMCMT), Kurukshetra University (KU), on November 17, 2025. This five-year agreement, renewable by mutual consent, places OPA representatives directly on KU's academic boards and committees, driving a curriculum overhaul and faculty empowerment initiatives that promise to produce industry-ready graduates in printing, packaging, and media technology.

Central to the MoU are Clause 3.2, which embeds OPA as a key stakeholder in framing innovative syllabi, curricula, and teaching methodologies to optimize student training and placements, and Clause 3.7, mandating OPA's delivery of expert faculty development programs aligned with National Occupational Standards. These provisions ensure that KU educators receive hands-on industrial exposure, enabling them to impart cutting-edge skills in emerging technologies like digital printing and sustainable packaging—directly addressing skill gaps highlighted in India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The signing ceremony, held in KU's Committee Room, was officiated by Lt. Dr. Virender Pal, KU Registrar, on behalf of the university, and Prof. Kamal Chopra, OPA General Secretary. Witnesses included Prof. Maha Singh Poonia, IMCMT Director, Ashwani Gupta, President of the All India Federation of Printers & Packagers and Sudhir Chopra Executive Member of OPA.

KU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Somnath Sachdeva praised the partnership's potential: "This MoU accelerates NEP goals by integrating real-time industry insights into our academic framework, empowering students with practical expertise, fostering startups, and guaranteeing robust employability in a sector vital to India's $30 billion printing economy." Prof. Kamal Chopra reinforced OPA's commitment: "Beyond curriculum co-creation and faculty training, OPA will actively participate in every institute program on printing technology—offering expert lectures, workshops, and labs. Our 350+ member units are fully open for student internships, site visits, and joint R&D, paving the way for innovations like eco-friendly packaging solutions and AI-driven print workflows."

This collaboration extends to international horizons, facilitating potential tie-ups such as with the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, and includes provisions for research programs (Clause 3.5) and expert guidance in all KU printing events (Clause 3.6). By prioritizing non-financial commitments, the MoU focuses on sustainable, impact-driven cooperation, with governance under Indian laws and arbitration for amicable dispute resolution.

As KU, a UGC Category-I multidisciplinary university established in 1956, continues to excel in traditional and emerging disciplines, this alliance with OPA—registered under the Societies Act since 1995—strengthens India's role as a printing hub, benefiting thousands of students and bolstering the industry's global competitiveness.