UGC unveils guidelines for skill-based courses and micro-credentials in HEIs

Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for the implementation of skill-based courses and micro-credentials in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) have been established by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said that, "The guidelines are for the introduction of skill-based courses and micro-credentials in higher education institutions (HEIs), marking an important step in realizing the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.”

“These guidelines aim to equip students with practical, industry-relevant skills and help them realize their academic goals in a chosen discipline,” Kumar added.

"These guidelines aim to address the job market's changing demands and prepare India's youth to become key contributors to a globally competitive knowledge economy,” the UGC chairperson said.

“India's demographic dividend, characterized by its large and youthful population, holds immense potential for economic growth and global influence. However, unlocking this potential requires aligning higher education with the evolving needs of industry and society,” he added.

“NEP 2020 advocates bridging the gap between conventional academic instruction and practical competencies employers seek by introducing skill-based courses and micro-credentials as part of a student's academic journey," Kumar said.

He claimed that HEIs can expose students to cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital marketing, literary journalism and feature writing, conflict resolution and mediation, digital advocacy and campaigning, logistics and supply chain, sustainable agriculture, digital payments and banking, fashion marketing and e-commerce, and sustainable practices by incorporating skill courses into the current curriculum.

Kumar added, "Acquiring skills in these and related fields will provide enhanced opportunities to our students to either be self-employed or seize the new job opportunities emerging in a rapidly digitizing and environmentally conscious global economy."

The UGC claims that by filling in skill gaps that are relevant to the industry, these courses seek to improve students' career prospects, including self-employment.

In order to align higher education with regional economic growth, the UGC said that it will encourage the implementation of industry-focused, demand-driven, skill-based courses that address local and regional employment demands.