IGNOU and Skill Ministry: As per the recent updates, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) for strengthening the vocational and technical training framework. As per MSDE, The MoU has been signed for 10 years and will be subject to renewal on mutual agreement.
The pact has been made to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4.4 and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to increase the gross enrolment ratio in higher education including vocational education to 50% by 2035.
The objective of this partnership is to link vocational education and training with higher education, thereby making India's youth employable through the creation of new avenues for them to access better work opportunities.
@MSDESkillIndia partners with @OfficialIGNOU to integrate skill training & higher education for trainees across 32 NSTIs, over 3000 ITIs, 500 PMKKs & nearly 300 JSS. Candidates under this initiative will get a chance to join IGNOUâ??s 3-year degree prog. to attain higher education pic.twitter.com/DILGVbzVMI
— Skill India (@MSDESkillIndia) January 18, 2022
Beneficiaries of the Programme
The goal of the agreement is to create avenues for work opportunities for India’s youth and to strengthen the vocational and technical training framework. The beneficiaries of the programme include trainees attached to the National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS).
It is aimed towards making higher education and thus better livelihood opportunities available to these students and ensuring upward mobility for them. As per an official statement, nearly 32 NSTIs, 3000 ITIs, 500 PMKKs and 300 JSS will be associated with the varsity as registration, examination, and work centres.
How will the Programme Operate?
With this partnership, a total of 32 NSTIs, more than 3,000 Government ITIs, 500 PMKKs and nearly 300 JSS will be associated with IGNOU as registration centres, examination centres and work centres for hands-on training.
A Project Steering Committee with representatives from both MSDE and IGNOU will monitor and review the progress of the programme. The Memorandum of Understanding is originally for a term of ten years, with the possibility of renewal based on mutual agreement.
Role of IGNOU
IGNOU will give all essential support for the successful execution of this plan through its 21 Schools of Studies and 56 Regional Centres. IGNOU will create quality assurance standards, provide counselling and trainer training programmes to help students enrol, educate staff at the chosen centres to handle enrolments and counselling, and mentor management at NSTIs, ITIs, PMKKs, and JSSs.
The joint initiative will be implemented as soon as possible, with 32 NSTIs designated as IGNOU centres, offering courses in foreign language training, skill-based healthcare education, fashion design, and other subjects.
REGISTER FOR RESULTS UPDATES