UGC Seeks Public Feedback on Draft Guidelines for Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme

The AEDP guidelines align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes a holistic and flexible approach to education, integrating both academic and vocational learning.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released draft guidelines for the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) and is inviting feedback from stakeholders. These guidelines aim to enhance the employability of undergraduate students by integrating apprenticeships within degree programs, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements.

The UGC has placed the draft guidelines on AEDP in the public domain, seeking comments, suggestions, and feedback from stakeholders, including students, educators, and industry professionals. Suggestions can be submitted through a Google form, accessible at this link, within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice.

AEDP Guidelines

In July 2020, the UGC introduced guidelines for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to offer apprenticeship or internship-embedded degree programs. The initiative aimed to improve undergraduate employability, promote outcome-based learning, and strengthen industry-academia connections. The current draft guidelines build upon this foundation, seeking to further enhance the integration of work-based learning with academic education.

Aligning with NEP 2020

The AEDP guidelines align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes a holistic and flexible approach to education, integrating both academic and vocational learning. The NEP promotes the inclusion of apprenticeships as a crucial element of higher education to foster experiential and outcome-based learning. Para 16.7 of the NEP highlights the need for experimenting with different models of vocational education and apprenticeships within higher education.

UGC's new student-centric "Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes" (CCFUP) incorporates these principles, offering flexible choice-based credit systems, multiple entry and exit options, and a multidisciplinary approach. This aims to ensure that students are better prepared for the demands of the modern job market.

Bridging the Education-Employability Gap

The UGC recognizes the need to address the gap between classroom learning and industry demands. Embedding industry-required competencies within university curricula through apprenticeships is seen as a key strategy to bridge this gap. Apprenticeships provide students with structured training and real-world exposure, combining practical work-based learning with theoretical knowledge.

Globally, apprenticeships are considered an effective method to prepare students for the workforce. In India, the UGC aims to harness this approach to develop a dynamic and skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth. This initiative is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and India’s strategy to utilize its demographic dividend effectively.

Continued Efforts Toward Enhancing Apprenticeship Programs

The draft AEDP guidelines are part of UGC’s ongoing efforts to make higher education more relevant to industry needs. As apprenticeship programs continue to evolve, they play a vital role in fostering skilled labor and reducing youth unemployment. The UGC’s guidelines are set to be a crucial part of India’s educational and economic development strategies, creating a more competent, employable, and globally competitive workforce.

The UGC encourages all stakeholders to review the draft guidelines and provide their feedback through the Google form link provided. The feedback period is open for 30 days from the date of publication, allowing ample time for stakeholders to share their suggestions and insights, for more details on the guidelines, stakeholders can refer to the official document available on the UGC website.