Question : EMPLOYABILITY OF UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

(a) whether the Government has any plan to improve the ‘employability’ of university graduates who are often branded as unemployable by industries;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has asked universities to set up placement cells so as to encourage a dialogue between job seekers and job providers on the required skills sets;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the response thereto;

(e) whether the Government is working with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, which trains students for shopfloor jobs at its Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in this regard;

(f) if so, the reaction of the above Ministry; and (g) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for ensuring jobs to university graduates after passing out from colleges?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): The Government has notified the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) on 27th December, 2013 to enable a person to acquire desired competency levels, transit to the job market and at an opportune time, return for acquiring additional skills to further upgrade their competencies. The details of NSQF are at http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/ files/NSQF%20NOTIFICATION.pdf. The University Grants Commission (UGC is implementing, within this framework, two schemes namely “Community Colleges” and “B.Voc degree programme” which offer employment oriented skill based vocational courses wherein an industry partner is essentially associated for curriculum development, delivery of courses and assessment of learners. To give further push to skill based vocation, a scheme of Deen Dayal Upadhaya KAUSHAL Kendra has also been approved by the Commission. The guidelines of these schemes are available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/page/XII-Plan- Guidelines.aspx#skill . Community colleges and B.Voc degree programme will improve the employability of students considerably as industry partners will be involved in the framing of curricula, training and assessment of the learners to enable students completing the courses to meet the requirements of the industry.

(c) & (d): The UGC has informed that all universities are being asked to set up Placement Cells associating therewith the representatives of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), so as to provide a platform to job seekers and job providers.

(e) & (f): Yes, Madam. The Government is actively collaborating with National Skill Development Corporation for skill development in the Higher education sector.

(g): Besides opening of placement cells in Universities, the UGC, through the scheme of Deen Dayal Upadhaya KAUSHAL Kendra is establishing national resource centres for contributing to leadership training in skill development, leveraging technology for quality & scale up curriculum, development, research support, industry connect foreign collaboration & information support. The objective of KAUSHAL Kendra is to develop entrepreneurship among students for self-employment.