The University Grants Commission (UGC) has given approval for the introduction of short-term skill development courses in higher educational institutes. These courses are designed to provide practical learning opportunities for students who have completed the 10+2/Senior Secondary Examination. The courses, lasting 3-6 months, will be credit-linked and focus on various areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, IoT, Data Science, and more. UGC Chairman MamidalaJagadesh Kumar highlighted that the short-term skill development courses must prioritize practical learning, and higher educational institutions (HEIs) are encouraged to collaborate with Sector Skills Councils, Awarding Bodies, and industries for credibility, placement opportunities, and up-to-date course content. The guidelines recommend offering courses in emerging fields like Cloud Computing, Virtual Reality, Cyber Security, and others. HEIs are also expected to declare course fees and refund policies. The objective is to bridge the skill gap and facilitate employment opportunities for students completing these courses.

Source-Ugc.ac