In a major effort towards enhancing the employability of India’s youth, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled a set of guidelines for embedding skill-based courses and micro-credentials into the higher education framework. Aimed at bridging the glaring gap between academic instruction and industry requirements, these changes have the potential to redefine the role of Indian universities in producing a future-ready workforce, especially amid the on-going massive technology shifts and changes.
While India’s huge youth population presents immense opportunities for taking the country’s economy to its next orbit of growth, the nation grapples with a mismatch between the skills imparted by traditional educational institutions, and those demanded by several sections of industry. This disconnect continues to contribute to a paradox: while employers cite skill shortages, a significant proportion of graduates remain underemployed.
Why a skill-based education
It is here, the UGC’s guidelines propose an essential shift in pedagogical priorities, with a clear focus on fostering practical competencies. “These guidelines aim to equip students with industry-relevant skills, enabling them to achieve academic excellence while preparing them for the demands of a globally competitive knowledge economy,” remarked UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to creating a vibrant, adaptable education system that prepares India’s youth for emerging opportunities,” the UGC Chairman added while unveiling the guidelines a few weeks back. The draft guidelines are open for public feedback to strengthen its implementation.
Key features of the guidelines
The UGC guidelines present a robust strategy to integrate vocational skills into higher education. They recommend:
Skill-based programs across academic levels: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) such as Universities and colleges will offer skill-oriented programs, including certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, and degree courses
Micro-credentials for flexibility:Short, modular courses focused on niche skills will allow students to acquire targeted expertise and stack credits toward broader qualifications.
Industry collaboration: To ensure alignment with job market needs, the guidelines emphasize partnerships between HEIs and industries, fostering internships, apprenticeships, and co-designed curricula.
Credit-based flexibility: Students can accumulate and transfer academic credits, facilitating lifelong learning and diverse educational pathways
These initiatives support the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of a multidisciplinary, skill-focused higher education ecosystem. The UGC’s initiative can benefit a substantial number of students over the next decade.
As of the 2021-2022 academic year, approximately 43.3 million students are enrolled in higher education institutions across India. Projections indicate that by the financial year 2035, student enrolment in higher education is expected to rise to about 92 million.
Assuming a linear growth trajectory, the student strength would likely increase by 48.7 million over the next 13 years, averaging around 3.75 million additional students per year. Over a 10-year period, this suggests an increase of about 37.5 million students. Thus the UGC’s initiative over the next decade is estimated to be approximately 80.8 million.
Of relevance in this context is a recent joint initiative by the All India Council for Technical education (AICTE), the Association of Indian Universities, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and an online assessment organizations, Wheebox, along with state governments and private organizations, to bring out an India Skills Report 2025.
The report notes that countries across the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe face acute shortages of skilled professionals in high-demand sectors like technology, healthcare, finance, and green energy. India’s vast and evolving talent pool in fields like IT, engineering, healthcare, and emerging domains like AI and digital commerce, provides a timely and strategic solution to these challenges.
After surveying over 600,000 students, the report points to an employability level of students from different disciplines.
A survey of 6 lakh students has evaluated the employability levels of students in various disciplines across the country
Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and UP students were found to have the highest employability index from the employability test done by Wheebox.
A quick background: The Economic Survey by the government in 2023-24 had noted that only 51.25% of India’s graduates are employable, with significant challenges in vocational training and skilling.
“With one of the youngest populations, a median age of 28, India can harness its demographic dividend by nurturing a workforce that is equipped with employable skills and prepared for the needs of the industry. Elevated levels and superior standards of skills help countries adeptly navigate the challenges and opportunities present in both domestic and international job markets,” the Survey had stated then.
It is amid this background that the UGC has released the draft guidelines on infusing skill courses in degree programs, calling for feedback.
A call for refinement
While the guidelines mark a significant milestone, their successful implementation hinges on addressing longstanding systemic challenges:
Bridging the industry-academia gap: Collaboration with industry leaders must go beyond nominal partnerships. Employers often seek real-time applied skills rather than theoretical knowledge. Structured apprenticeships, live projects, and exposure to emerging technologies must form the backbone of these courses.
Faculty development: The quality of skill-based education depends on the educators delivering it. Faculty training programs, including industry immersion initiatives, are crucial to equipping teachers with the expertise to impart practical skills.
Infrastructural investment: Skill-based education requires modern infrastructure, including well-equipped labs, workshops, and access to cutting-edge technology. Many HEIs, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, lack these facilities.
Dynamic curriculum design: Curricula must be continually updated to reflect the rapidly changing demands of industries such as IT, renewable energy, and healthcare. Establishing advisory boards with representatives from high-growth sectors could help maintain relevance.
Focus on soft skills: Communication, teamwork, and critical thinking are often cited as critical gaps in the Indian workforce. Embedding these competencies into the curriculum can enhance the overall employability of graduates.
Critical sectors for skill development
The success of India’s skilling initiatives also depends on identifying and prioritizing sectors poised for exponential growth. Over the next decade, the following industries are likely to demand a skilled workforce:
Information technology and digital transformation: Roles in artificial intelligence, data science, cloud computing, and cybersecurity will continue to dominate the job market.
Renewable energy: As India transitions toward green energy, the solar and wind power sectors will require skilled engineers, technicians, and project managers.
Advanced manufacturing: With the rise of automation and Industry 4.0, proficiency in robotics, machine learning, and advanced manufacturing technologies will be crucial.
Healthcare: An aging population and the rise of medical technology demand skilled professionals in healthcare management, diagnostics, and telemedicine.
Digital marketing and e-commerce: The proliferation of digital platforms necessitates expertise in online marketing, user experience design, and analytics.
Industry leaders have echoed similar sentiments. An IT sector executive remarked, “While degrees provide foundational knowledge, it is practical skills and adaptability that determine employability. These guidelines are a step in the right direction.”
By addressing many of the existing systemic weaknesses, fostering collaboration with industry, and focusing on sectors with high growth potential, India can empower its youth to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy. With sustained effort, this UGC initiative has the potential to not only elevate the nation’s skills index but also drive economic progress for decades to come.
(K. Ramachandran writes on higher education, and is also a business leader in 361 Degree Minds.)
Published – January 08, 2025 06:36 pm IST
