Stronger Industry Ties: UGC's Draft Guidelines to Foster Collaboration and Growth

Apprenticeship-Embedded Degrees Will Transform Indian Education

India will require a highly skilled and educated workforce to transition into a developed economy, hence, Gita Gopinath, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), emphasized that the country must prioritize skill development and education to achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Estimates indicate that India will need an additional 10.97 crore skilled workers across 24 key sectors, along with a further 29.82 crore workers in both farm and non-farm sectors who will need to be skilled, reskilled, and upskilled.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has called for suggestions and feedback from stakeholders regarding the same and asked to draft guidelines for the apprenticeship-embedded degree program. This initiative aims to allow students enrolled in undergraduate programs at higher educational institutions to engage in apprenticeship training as an integrated part of their degree. The Commission has encouraged stakeholders to submit their comments on the guidelines through a Google form within 30 days of the publication date.

With fast changes in the job market, it's important to connect what students learn in class with what industries need. To achieve this, students should gain the skills that employers look for, helping to close the gap between education and job readiness. The documents stress the importance of apprenticeships in achieving this goal. The UGC document specifies that only employers with four or more workers will be eligible to engage apprentices, while establishments with 30 or more workers must engage apprentices as a mandatory requirement. Each establishment is expected to engage apprentices at a rate between 2.5 percent and 15 percent of their total workforce within a financial year. The total number of apprentices should include a minimum of 5 percent reserved for fresh apprentices and those holding skill certificates, with the total count considering all staff, including contractual workers.

Additionally, the document outlines plans for the Government of India to establish regional boards for apprenticeship and practical training in Chennai, Kanpur, Mumbai, and Kolkata. These boards will function as autonomous bodies to implement the national apprenticeship training scheme in their respective regions.
 

Editor's Note:

The Indian higher education system is shifting toward a more progressive approach with the UGC guidelines for Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programs, bridging the gap between education and employment. By integrating practical, industry-relevant training into degree programs, students will be better prepared for a smooth transition from education to the workforce. This initiative by the UGC is a significant step toward aligning educational outcomes with industry needs. Stakeholder feedback will be crucial in refining these guidelines and making the program effective. 

Skoobuzz appreciates the UGC's initiative to align higher education in India more closely with the demands of the modern workforce, ultimately contributing to the nation’s development goals.