IGNOU, MSDE tie up to set up skill centres across 70 regional hubs | India News

NEW DELHI: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the union ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to roll out skill training under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and establish skill centres across IGNOU’s regional centres nationwide.The MoU was signed in the presence of IGNOU vice-chancellor Uma Kanjilal and MSDE secretary Debashree Mukherjee, along with senior officials from both institutions.Under the agreement, skill centres will be set up at all 70 IGNOU regional centres to conduct National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-aligned, industry-focused training programmes under PMKVY 4.0. IGNOU, which has over 2,400 learner support centres, will function as a training partner and a project implementing agency under the scheme.Officials said the university will use its digital and blended learning ecosystem and its status as a National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT)-recognised awarding body to design and deliver employability-oriented skill programmes. The initiative also envisages integration of vocational modules with academic courses to enable credit-linked learning pathways in line with the National Education Policy.The collaboration includes training of trainers through sector skill councils and the National Skill Development Corporation, along with placement support through industry partnerships, apprenticeships, internships and job fairs. Outcomes will be digitally tracked through the Skill India Digital Hub platform.Kanjilal said the initiative would expand access to skill education for women, rural youth, first-generation learners and workers in the informal sector. Officials said the partnership is aimed at linking education with workforce requirements and strengthening local employment ecosystems.