Promote Apprenticeship, Internship Embedded Degree Programmes: UGC Tells Universities

Bhubaneswar: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday asked universities in the country to promote apprenticeship, internship embedded degree programmes.

In a letter to all vice-chancellors, the UGC said the competencies demanded by the industry need to be embedded in our university curriculum so that the employment-employability gap is overcome. The minimal linkage between the general degree curriculum and employer’s requirement calls for an effective remodelling of degree programmes, driven by changing needs of the industry and service sector.

“Apprenticeship and internship can play a significant role in this context. world over, apprenticeship is considered as the most efficient and promising structured training for exposure to the real working environment,” UGC said in a statement.

On August 10, the Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal had virtually launched UGC Guidelines for Higher Education Institutions to offer Apprenticeship/Internship embedded Degree Programme.

While speaking on the occasion, Pokhriyal said employment generation coupled with improving the employability of the youth is the priority concern of the Government and was reflected in the NEP 2020.

Pokhriyal also said that India will have the largest working-age population in the world by 2030. Hence in a bid to capitalize on this aspect, it is essential to improve the quality of education and make it relevant in terms of providing employment opportunities, he said.