New Delhi, March 2024.

 In a groundbreaking collaboration, Medhavi Skills University (MSU), a UGC and NCVET recognised Skills University, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of MSDE (Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship) have joined hands to fast-track the convergence of skilling ecosystem with Higher Education as per the mandate of new National Education Policy 2020 (NEP2020).

This strategic partnership focuses on empowering the large network of NSDC Skill Training Partners across India to align, accredit and formalise their professional short-term fee-based programmes so that Academic Credits can be awarded to the candidates in line with the National Credit Framework (NCrF). The apex regulatory bodies of Education, UGC, AICTE and NCVET notified the NCrF last year to harmonise and integrate Skills education with Higher Education pathways, thus empowering youths with industry-relevant Skills leading to better employability.

The move comes as a response to the evolving Indian skilling ecosystem and the pressing need to create pathways for seamless credit transfer and due recognition of skill-based certifications. There is a large student base that opts for skill-based courses / professional certifications to acquire industry-relevant skill sets for improving their employment prospects. Many students enroll in these programmes through online Ed-Tech companies/skill development institutes over and above their formal college/university programmes, thus increasing their overall academic load. Linking the short-term courses to Academic credits will open the gateway to the seamless linkage of Skills with Higher Education.

Under this association, MSU will work closely with the registered training partners of NSDC to align their short-term programmes under the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) or National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), the overarching educational frameworks duly notified by UGC and NCVET, the regulatory bodies. NHEQF is an outcome oriented curriculum framework formulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the aim of facilitating comparability and standardization of higher education qualifications at all levels w.r.t National Credit Framework (NCrF).

It is noteworthy that post the programme alignment and recognition by NSDC & MSU, the candidates will be awarded Academic Credits for their short-term skill-based courses done through Ed-Tech platforms and skilling institutions, and the same would be uploaded into the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) linked to candidate’s Digi-locker and APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry), maintained by Govt. of India. APAAR ID is a transformative initiative introduced in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP2020), and it is a unique identification number (One Student – One ID) assigned to all learners across India from the school education, Higher Education and Skills ecosystem. The credits accumulated by the candidate in ABC can be transferred and redeemed by the college/university to award formal qualifications in higher education.

The entire process will be integrated and digitally enabled through the Skill India Digital Hub (SDIH), a transformative initiative by NSDC & MSDE.  All skilling courses offered SDIH platform by the Ed-Tech companies (Training partners) will be facilitated for academic credits linkage and the credits so acquired by learners through SIDH shall be accruedor redeemed through seamless linkage to Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) portal.

Commenting on this partnership, Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), iterates, “that this collaboration aligns with the fundamental principles outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, mandating that skill certifications becomes integral part of higher educational ecosystem. Achieving Academic creditization ensures that certifications earned through skill training are recognized and valued by a wide spectrum of educational institutions and employers.

Reflecting on this significant development, Mr. Pravesh Dudani, Founder & Chancellor, Medhavi Skills University (MSU) notes that “ this collaboration is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment for Indian students since ABC linkage will facilitate smooth mobility for learners between skill-based training and mainstream higher education, thus unlocking new pathways for career progression.”

Commenting on the scope of impact, Mr. Kuldip Sarma, Pro-Chancellor of MSU, eloquently remarked, “ this partnership is poised to be a game-changer, offering a paradigm shift in the skill ecosystem by enhancing the certification value and transferability of Skilling and professional certifications, increased recognition, and streamlined pathways for career growth.”