Medhavi Skills University, NSDC signs agreement for implementation of NCrF

NEW DELHI: Medhavi Skills University (MSU) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) have signed an agreement to fast-track the convergence of skilling ecosystem with Higher Education as per the mandate of new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

This partnership aims to empower 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 NCrF was informed last year to harmonise and integrate skills education with higher education pathways by the apex regulatory bodies of education, UGC, AICTE, and NCVET. This would empower youth with industry-relevant skills that will improve their employability.

This move comes in response to the rapidly developing skilling ecosystem in India as well as the urgent need to establish channels for the smooth transfer of credits and the proper acknowledgement of skill-based certifications. 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.

Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) said, "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, Pravesh Dudani, Founder and Chancellor, Medhavi Skills University (MSU) notes that “this collaboration is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment for Indian students sinceABC linkage will facilitate smooth mobility for learners between skill-based training and mainstream higher education, thus unlocking new pathways for career progression.”

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.