The Career Guidance and Skill Development Cell of Nanda Nath Saikia College organised a Career Counselling Program on 12 August 2025, titled “Career Building through IGNOU Programs”. The program aimed at creating awareness among students regarding the various opportunities for higher education and skill development available through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), one of the largest open universities in the world. The session was graced by two distinguished Resource Persons from the IGNOU Jorhat Regional Centre:  Dr. Anil Chandra Bora, Regional Director  Dr. Sanjib Kataky, Assistant Regional Director The program was ably hosted by Dr. Goutam Borah, Assistant Professor, Department of Assamese, NN Saikia College. The proceedings commenced with a Keynote Address by Dr. Suvangshu Dutta, Principal of the College, who welcomed the gathering and spoke about the importance of career counselling in guiding students towards meaningful academic and professional paths. Following this, Dr. Kaushik Dutta, Assistant Professor, Department of English, introduced the resource persons, highlighting their significant contributions to the field of open and distance learning. As part of the program, the resource persons felicitated Dr. Suvangshu Dutta, Principal of the College, in recognition of his valuable service as an efficient coordinator of IGNOU during his tenure as Associate Professor at DR College, Golaghat. This gesture added a special dimension to the occasion, reflecting the longstanding collaboration between IGNOU and the academic community of Assam. The event witnessed overwhelming participation, with 262 students from different streams attending the session, alongside the faculty members of NN Saikia College. The talks delivered by the resource persons were highly informative and inspirational. They highlighted the diverse range of career-oriented programs offered by IGNOU, which are designed to bridge the gap between education and employability. Among the programs discussed were professional and vocational courses such as Hospitality Management, Fashion Technology, Tourism Studies, Nursing, Social Work, Rural Development, Computer Applications, and Library & Information Science. The resource persons also emphasized IGNOU’s specialized certificate and diploma programs in areas like Entrepreneurship, Environmental Studies, Journalism & Mass Communication, Food and Nutrition, and Early Childhood Care and Education, which are of immense relevance in today’s job market. These programs, they pointed out, not only enhance academic qualifications but also equip students with practical skills to pursue diverse career options. The resource persons further explained how IGNOU’s flexible and learner-centric approach, affordable fee structure, and wide range of study centers make higher education accessible to students from all backgrounds. They encouraged students to take advantage of these opportunities, stressing that such courses could greatly enhance their career prospects, whether in government service, private enterprises, or self-employment. The program concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Ms. Mayuri Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, NN Saikia College, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed resource persons for their enlightening presentations, to the Principal for his guidance, and to the faculty and students for their enthusiastic participation. The event proved to be a resounding success, offering students not only an introduction to the academic and professional possibilities through IGNOU but also practical insights into aligning their education with emerging career trends. The program has set a constructive tone for future collaborations between NN Saikia College and IGNOU in fostering skill development and career readiness among students.