Central universities and institutions affiliated to University Grants Commission (UGC) are set to award bachelor’s degree in vocational education from academic year 2013-14. With an aim to create skilled work force in the country as part of the first phase of the project, 200 institutions in the country have been given the go-ahead to implement the programme from the next academic year.
“The framework provides for seven levels of certification. While certification level one to four fall in the domain of school education, certification levels five to seven fall in the jurisdiction of higher education. After successful completion of all seven levels of certification, B. Voc degree (undergraduate level) will be awarded to students in specialised vocational programmes,” sources added.
The proposed vocational education programme will be a mix of skills related to a particular profession and appropriate content of general education. “Initially, it has been proposed to launch the scheme in 200 institutions in the country from academic year 2013-14. By 2022, the government wants to create a 500 million strong skilled workforce through the NVEQF,” sources added.
Sources stated that under the national vocational education qualifications framework, the All-India Council for Technical Education has identified 10 broad vocational sectors, with each sector offering a number of specialisation. The 10 vocational sectors are automobiles, entertainment, information technology, telecom, marketing, agriculture, construction, applied arts, tourism and printing and publishing.
The UGC has asked Central universities to initiate a dialogue with their affiliated institutes to take the plan forward. The curriculum for the NVEQF has been designed by the AICTE in consultation with the industry and other services sectors to ensure contextual relevance and also to ensure placement of students. Multi-level entry and exit system will allow the candidate to seek employment after any level and rejoin the education as and when feasible to upgrade qualifications.
Institutes have also been asked to establish appropriate linkages with industry and other service providers so that the students are offered proper placement, sources added.