Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship signs MoU with IGNOU to link vocational education and training with higher education.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has signed an MoU with Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) to link vocational education and training with higher education.

The move aims to make India’s youth employable by creating opportunities to access better job opportunities. The MoU is initially subject to renewal on mutual agreement for a period of 10 years.

In its initial phase, the joint initiative will be implemented at the earliest, with 32 National Skill Training Institutes announced as IGNOU Centers for foreign language training, skill-based health education, fashion designing and more.

Trainees associated with National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) and Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS) will benefit from the program aimed at creating upward mobility of these students. Get higher education for better livelihood opportunities, Skill Development Ministry said on Tuesday.

Under the partnership, 32 NSTIs, over 3,000 Government ITIs, 500 PMKKs and around 300 JSSs will be linked to IGNOU as registration centres, examination centers and work centers for practical training.

“Through the collaboration, students will now have an opportunity to join the three-year degree program of IGNOU,” it said.

According to the statement, a Project Steering Committee will be constituted with representatives from both MSDE and IGNOU to monitor and review the progress of the programme.

“This MoU is in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4.4 and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education including vocational education to 50% by 2035.

“The initiative will provide higher social and economic mobility to our youth with requisite qualifications,” Rajesh Aggarwal, secretary, ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship said.

As part of the agreement, IGNOU will develop standards for quality assurance, develop mentorship and trainer training programs to facilitate enrollment of students, train staff from identified centers to handle enrollment and counselling, and NSTI, ITI will guide the management of PMKK and jss.

It will also provide self-learning material (SLM) in digital form, conduct comprehensive assessment and term end exams for its own constituents, and issue certificates to successful learners.