New Delhi, 10 May 2022.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the nodal agency under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Medhavi Skills University to jointly develop and promote work-integrated and skill-embedded degree/ diploma courses (Bachelor of Vocational Studies - B. Voc/ Diploma in Vocation - D. Voc). These courses will be implemented through NSDC’s network of training partners/ training centers and in association with the university’s empaneled industries.

The MoU was signed by Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer and Officiating CEO, NSDC and PraveshDudani, Founder & Chancellor of Medhavi Skills University in New Delhi.

The partnership is targeted at students who have completed either class 10 or 12 in school education. It will enable students to earn a University Grants Commission (UGC)-recognized degree/ diploma alongside practical work experience in industries related to their education. The On-the-job (OJT) training will be linked to monthly stipends paid by the respective industries to the trainees, making the university courses highly affordable and beneficial for the disadvantaged student groups who are at risk of dropping out from higher education.These courses will also create an enabling ecosystem and fulfill the objectives of the Skill India Mission as they are designed to provide industry-relevant skills to the youth.

NSDC will leverage its network to launch university diploma and degree courses under work-based training or OJT at employer’s premises. The training partners/ trainingcenters would facilitate student enrollments into the university and, after their basic training at skill centers, students will join the designated industry as traineesand will undergo practical OJT training while working on the shop floor. Alongside their practical training, the university will conduct theory classes in ‘Phygital’ model in combination of physical classes, live virtual classes, and self-paced learning through the university learning management system.

Commenting on the strategic partnership, Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer and Officiating CEO, NSDC said, “The collaboration with Medhavi Skills University aims to bring a paradigm shift in the skill ecosystem with the introduction of long-term degree/ diploma-backed skill courses in the ‘learn while earn’ mode. Students will be able to gain hands-on practical exposure while they work in reputed industries as trainees and earn stipends for their contribution to production and service outputs. The collaboration is aligned to the National Education Policy 2020, which envisages convergence of skill training with higher education tracks followed by individual institutions.”

The ‘learn while earn’ model is being actively promoted under NEP 2020 as it ensures practical learning while working on the job. Specific guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) promoteembedding apprenticeships/internships/ OJT training as a curriculum component of the skill-degree courses. As trainees contribute to the production/service output of the industry during OJT, employers pay stipend leading to earning by students.

Pravesh Dudani, Founder Chancellor of Medhavi Skills University said, “The current short-term skill training model has a unique challenge of restricted career growth for students due to lack of higher education qualification. With the Work Integrated Skills & Higher Education (WISE) model of the university, the candidates will earn University Grants Commission (UGC) recognized Bachelors/ Diploma (B. Voc/ D. Voc) qualification along with practical work experience that has significant potential to catapult their career progression in the long-term.”

Present on the occasion, Kuldip Sarma, Pro-Chancellor of Medhavi Skills University said, “The WISE model of the university envisions providing equitable access to the disadvantaged candidates to excel in their careers who cannot afford full-time traditional higher education. Through the NSDC collaboration, MSU plans to empower 5 lakh disadvantaged youths in the next three years via various work integrated skilling and education approach.”