The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to issue guidelines for Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP). This is good news for Telangana, as the state has been working hard to provide skill-based education for its youth. Recently, the Telangana government set up the Young India Skill University (YISU) and upgraded all Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs). These changes aim to help students gain industry-relevant skills, as many graduates were not getting jobs due to a lack of such skills. YISU has already started offering courses and plans to train 2,000 students in its first year.
The UGC’s new guidelines will allow Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to offer AEDP starting from the January-February 2025 admission cycle. According to UGC Chairman, Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, these programmes will combine the benefits of both apprenticeships and university degrees. This means students will get hands-on learning along with theoretical knowledge, making them more employable. He encouraged all eligible institutions to adopt these guidelines and offer AEDP to their students.
One key feature of AEDP is that students will earn credits for their apprenticeships, starting from the second semester. HEIs can offer a single internship lasting at least six months. Additionally, they will have the flexibility to design the curriculum and manage credit transfers as part of the degree programme. The credit system is based on training hours, with 30 hours of training equal to 1 credit, and a one-year apprenticeship equal to at least 40 credits. However, only institutions that meet certain standards, such as having NAAC accreditation or a ranking in the NIRF, will be allowed to offer AEDP courses.
Another important change is that students enrolled in AEDP will receive stipends. The amount will depend on whether the programme is offered through the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) or under the Apprentices Act, 1961, directly with industries. The UGC will soon release draft guidelines for public review, inviting feedback from students and other stakeholders before finalizing the guidelines for AEDP courses.
