With the aim of advancing India’s skill-integrated education ecosystem in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, National Institute of Open Schooling and Medhavi Skills University have entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly strengthen pathways between school education, vocational education, and higher education across the country.
This collaboration will create a transformative framework for skill development, academic mobility, vocational certifications, school equivalency pathways, and employability-linked education at scale.
The initiative will result in seamless progression opportunities for learners, school dropouts, working professionals, apprentices, vocational trainees, and youth from underserved communities by integrating formal education with industry-linked skills training and work-integrated learning.
The MoU was formally signed by Col. Shakeel Ahmad, secretary, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), and Kuldip Sarma, co-founder and pro chancellor, Medhavi Skills University.
Kuldip Sarma said, “This partnership is a major step towards building seamless pathways between education, skilling, and employability. This initiative strongly aligns with the vision of NEP 2020 and the National Credit Framework, enabling learners across socio-economic backgrounds to access flexible, industry-linked, and future-ready education opportunities.”
According to Ahmad, “NIOS has always focused on expanding inclusive and accessible learning opportunities across the country. This collaboration with MSU will further strengthen vocational education, credit mobility, and learner progression pathways aligned with the vision of NEP 2020,” added Col. Shakeel Ahmad.
Both institutions will collaborate on the establishment of accredited vocational institutions and industry-based learning centres across India. They will focus on skill training through market-relevant certificate and diploma programmes. The two entitites will ensure creditisation and mutual recognition of skill certifications and credit transfer pathways between vocational and school education. They will develop the curriculum and content jointly and offer career guidance, placement, entrepreneurship and learner support services. They will also jointly develop digital learning ecosystems and Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes for vocational instructors and trainers.
The collaboration will also support work-integrated programmes, apprenticeship-embedded diplomas, flexi-MoU programmes, and industry-aligned skilling initiatives across manufacturing, services and emerging sectors.
Medhavi Skills University is a UGC-recognised private Skills University established by an Act of the Government of Sikkim.