AICTE amends norms on skill development programmes

Engineering and polytechnic colleges may also offer sundry government-approved certificate courses on skill development ranging from mobile repair to organic farming and embroidery training with the Centre amending the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) regulations.

The institutes, however, will need prior approval from the AICTE for offering such programmes under the National Council for Vocational Training. The technical education regulator has notified the amendment in an official gazette recently with approval of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry. 

With the Narendra Modi government targeting to empower at least 10 lakh youths with certified vocational skills to enable them find jobs in the industry in India or abroad, the AICTE has already allowed polytechnics to offer skill development programmes from their campuses.

While about 500 polytechnics across the country have been identified for offering various skill development certificate programmes, the council is ready to allow existing engineering colleges also to offer such courses. 

This is the first amendment to the AICTE regulations, 2012, formulated for grant of approval to institutes offering technical and professional programmes.

“The amendment has been made to facilitate technical institutes in offering skill development programmes, provided they maintain the quality and standards of the approved programme that they currently conduct and the skill development courses they would be offering henceforth,” a senior AICTE official told DH.