India’s skill universities are bridging gap between education and employment

Skill India: As India increasingly prioritises skill-based learning to enhance youth employability, a new generation of universities is stepping up to meet the challenge. Institutions like Seacom Skills University (SSU) in West Bengal and Medhavi Skills University (MSU) in Sikkim are leading this transformation by offering hands-on, industry-aligned education. These universities go beyond traditional degrees — they embed practical skills, workplace exposure, and entrepreneurial thinking into their curriculum, aiming to bridge the gap between education and employment.

“I joined this university as it is known for 100% placement because whatever we learn is skill-based, making the students employable,” said Himanshu Barman, a final-year student of BSc Agriculture (Honours) at Seacom Skills University (SSU) in Bolpur, West Bengal.

His sentiment is echoed across campuses that have embraced a more practical, industry-focused form of education. “I joined Seacom Skills University because of its strong emphasis on practical legal education and skill development. The university offers not only academic knowledge but also real-life experiences that are preparing us for the legal profession,” added Ahmed Reja, a student enrolled in the university’s School of Legal Studies and is presently in the 4th semester of the five-year integrated programme.

Universities like Seacom Skills University (SSU) in West Bengal and Medhavi Skills University (MSU) in Sikkim — both in the eastern part of the country — are leading the way. Their approach is simple: they don’t just award degrees; they equip students with practical skills that can be directly used in the workplace.

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Skill development: New breed of universities

Seacom Skills University, established in 2014, is the second skill university in India, the first being TeamLease Skills University (TLSU), which was established in 2013 in Gujarat. SSU offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral programmes across various disciplines, including engineering, management, legal sciences, agriculture, and hospitality.

This university is also the first private university in West Bengal to offer a BSc agriculture, a programme which began in 2017. SSU has two campuses — one in Howrah (offering engineering and hotel management) and another in Bolpur, which hosts agriculture, law, pharmacy, and other science streams. The university currently has about 400 students across four batches in agriculture alone.

“This is a skill university because we put emphasis on practical applications,” said Manasij Das, assistant professor of agricultural entomology. “We want students to be equipped with skills that can help them fend for themselves, become financially independent, and not necessarily depend on a job.”

With most faculty members having trained at prestigious institutions like Visva Bharati, SSU claims strong academic credibility while offering hands-on exposure. However, Das also points out a systemic gap: “The industry-academia connection is comparatively less in West Bengal. Our university is trying to address this issue, especially since many meritorious students from districts like Bankura, Medinipur, and Birbhum fail to get into limited government college seats despite scoring above 90 percent.”

Students are not just taught theory — they engage in fieldwork, learn communication skills, and take up practical modules like apiculture. “I too have got placed,” said Barman, “but I want to start my own business, so I’ll pursue a master’s in Agricultural Business Management next.”

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Medhavi Skills University

In the distant and often underrepresented northeastern state of Sikkim, Medhavi Skills University offers another robust example of skills-based education. Founded by Pravesh Dudani, Medhavi focuses on employment-centric learning. “We started this university because we had over a decade of experience running skill-based programs. The National Education Policy 2020 encouraged integration of vocational training with higher education, which gave our vision further legitimacy,” he explained.

At Medhavi, there are two types of programmes, one where students enroll traditionally and later move into industries for on-the-job training, and the other where industries themselves send trainees for academic instruction and skill building.

Admissions at MSU are multifaceted. “We assess eligibility via Class 12 marks, our in-house aptitude test (SAT), and industry preferences. The SAT is AI-proctored and checks for aptitude, not just knowledge,” said Dudani. The university takes in 1,200 students annually on campus, and another 1,500–2,000 through industry-linked programmes, he further added.

Puja Limboo, a final-year student of BSc in hospitality and hotel management at Medhavi, recently completed her internship at ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata, and is now preparing to join Sterling Holiday Resorts as a Management Trainee. “I am so happy with this offer, especially since it was unexpected,” she said. “I’ll join on July 1 in the Food and Beverage section.”

Besides long-term degrees, Medhavi also offers short-term certificate programmes in organic farming and homestay tourism, especially targeting women to become entrepreneurs. These are certificate courses and they are recognised by NCVET (National Council for Vocational Education and Training) and serve community needs, added Dudani.

Medhavi Skills University runs 80+ skills academies across India. MSU draws students from Northeast India, Nepal, and Bhutan. As Sikkim’s terrain presents logistical challenges, Medhavi is further expanding to other regions to ensure access to its programmes.

Sikkim has another skill university – Sikkim Skill University (SSU)- which is a state university established in 2022.

Other skill universities

India’s push towards vocational education has led to the establishment of several skill universities beyond SSU and MSU.

• Shri Vishwakarma Skill University (SVSU), Haryana – The first government skill university in India, established to offer industry-aligned courses and promote apprenticeship models.

• TeamLease Skills University (TLSU), Gujarat – The university integrates education with employment. TLSU was set up in partnership with the Gujarat government and focuses on flexible, work-linked learning.

• Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Maharashtra – Offers advanced skills-based programmes in fields like automobile technology, mechatronics, construction, and IT.

• Two Skill Universities in Sikkim – In addition to Medhavi Skills University, Sikkim Skill University (SSU) was set up by the Sikkim government to provide local youth with employability-enhancing skills.

Assam Skill University, being developed in Mangaldoi, is a collaboration between the Government of Assam and Asian Development Bank. It will be the first full-fledged skill university in Assam, aiming to empower youth across the Northeast.