A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Dibrugarh University with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for introducing skilled based courses in the affiliated colleges of DU. In order to carry forward the programmes effectively at the undergraduate level DU organized an intensive interactive programme through video conferencing on August 19, 2015. Besides Mr. Mridul Dhaniwala, Co-ordinator (North-East), National Skill Development Corporation, New Delhi and Professor Ajanta B. Rajkonwar, Director, Centre for Management Studies, DU and Dr. Rupam Saikia, Director, College Development Council, DU, Principals and representatives of 35 affiliated colleges of DU participated in the discussion. Some of the important participants from the University who took part in the deliberation were Dr. Neeta Kalita, Professor Nirode Boruah, Dr. Binod Borah, Deputy Registrar (Academic) and Mr. Arinjit Hazarika, Academic Officer. Dr. Pranab Sharma, a former faculty member of the IIE Guwahati also was present as a special invitee.
Mr. Karunakar Borah, Technical Officer, DU provided the technical support during the Video Conferencing.
The following keypoints emerged during the discussion:
- NSDC will help/support in organizing for the assessment of skill and will issue a joint certification. The students will be continuously evaluated by the teacher(s) and NSDC. Attendance requirements as per the University Ordinance will be monitored by the concerned College/Institution.
- NSDC will issue its best endeavor to drive all aspects and continuous industry interface, identifying local industries who will actively engage to help the delivery of the training and placement of students into the internship/jobs.
- The skill-based courses to be introduced in the colleges shall be add-on courses. The syllabus of the same shall be based on NSQF (National Skills Qualification Framework).
- Preferably, each college should choose courses from maximum two Sectors.
- The skill component and general components of a particular course are not standardized across all sectors. As such, it may be different for different sectors.
- Minimum 25 numbers of students shall be required to run a course. However, there is no limit for maximum number of students. Students can take admission in a Skill-based course in a particular college irrespective of him/her being a student of the college.
- The skill-based courses are be started tentatively from the second week of September, 2015.
- The skill-based courses shall be ‘modular’ in nature. The students shall have the flexibility of entry and exit option at Level 4, 5 and 6.
- The Principals opined that NSDC should set up Sector Skill Councils catering to the needs of the skills of the North East region and courses may be designed as per the requirement of the region. In view of this, Shri Dhaniwala of NSDC requested the University to collect proposals from the colleges regarding introduction of courses relevant to the area/region and send the same to NSDC at the earliest.
It was an effective discussing between the stakeholders and the University looks forward for the introduction of skill-based courses from the second week of September, 2015.