Report on B.

Voc Courses in State Universities

Introduction:
The UGC introduced B.Voc scheme in 2013 with an aim to align higher education with the
emerging needs of the economy so as to ensure that the graduates of higher education
system have adequate knowledge and skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
TheB.Voc. Programme is focused on universities and colleges providing undergraduate
studies which would also incorporate specific job roles along with broad based general
education. The University Grants Commission launched this scheme on skills development
based higher education as part of college/university education, leading to Bachelor of
Vocation (B.Voc.) degree with multiple exit options such as Diploma/Advanced Diploma
under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
It aims to incorporate the requirements of various industries in curriculum, in an innovative
and flexible manner. The UGC stipulates that in order to “create ‘industry fit’ skilled
workforce, the institutions recognized under Community Colleges/B.Voc Degree
programme, and DeenDayalUpadhyay KAUSHAL Kendras offering skill based courses will
have to be in constant dialogue with the industry and respective Sector Skill Council(s) so
that they remain updated on the requirements of the workforce for the local economy.

Objective:
The objectives of the scheme as stipulated by the UGC are the following:
 To provide judicious mix of skills relating to a profession and appropriate content of
General Education.
 To ensure that the students have adequate knowledge and skills, so that they are
work ready at each exit point of the programme.
 To provide flexibility to the students by means of pre-defined entry and multiple exit
points.
 To integrate NSQF within the undergraduate level of higher education in order to
enhance employability of the graduates and meet industry requirements. Such graduates
apart from meeting the needs of local and national industry are also expected to be
equipped to become part of the global workforce.
 To provide vertical mobility to students coming out of 10+2 with vocational subjects.

Levels of Awards:
The certification levels will lead to Diploma/Advanced Diploma/B. Voc. Degree in one or
more vocational areas and will be offered under the aegis of the University, as outlined in
the table below:

Award Duration Corresponding NSQF Level

Diploma 1 Year 5
Advanced Diploma 2 Years 6
B.Voc. Degree 3 Years 7

Each award is expected to specify in parenthesis the specialization of the course. For eg:
B. Voc. (Renewably Energy Management)
B. Voc. (Retail Management)
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B.Voc. (Retail Management and IT)
Advanced Diploma (Food Processing) etc.

Financial Assistance for the Scheme:

The UGC allocates financial aid within an overall ceiling of Rs. 1.85 crores for a period
of three years under different heads as given below:
 Start-up assistance: A one-time start-up assistance of Rs. 50.00 lakh for setting up of
laboratories/workshops facilities, procurement of teaching and learning materials,
machineries/equipment and renovation. This shall not cover any new construction.
 Faculty: One Associate Professor and Two Assistant Professors – Rs. 75.00 lakh for
three years (purely on contractual basis during XII Plan period). Rs. 25.00 lakhs per annum X
3 years = Rs. 75.00 lakh - to be reimbursed on actual basis within the total allocation.
 Visiting/Guest Faculty: Rs. 5.00 lakh for first year and Rs. 10.00 lakh for second and
Rs. 15.00 lakh for third year.
 The operative yearly cost: The operative yearly cost shall be Rs. 10.00 lakhs per
annum.
 Existing Faculty: Rs.500/- per lecture
 Visiting/Guest faculty Rs.2,000/- per lecture

Infrastructure and Faculty for B.Voc.programme:

University/college needs to have adequate laboratory /workshop facilities for face to
face delivery of skills and hands-on practice either owned or arranged through tie-up with
the partner industry or any institution recognized by the certification agency.
The university/college should use its regular faculty for the conduct of general education
component and also for the skills components, if existing. Additionally, they may hire faculty
on contractual basis and guest faculty in the core trades only as per UGC norms.
There is a provision of One Associate Professor and Two Assistant Professors (purely on
contractual basis during XII Plan period), under this scheme.

Current status of B Voc courses in State Universities

The Kerala State Higher Education Council gathered information from the affiliated
universities in the state , including the Guidelines of B.Voc. courses issued by UGC, details of
B.Voc. courses run under various affiliating Universities, issues related to students
enrolment and outcome of the programme in terms of employment and skill development.
The Council received status reports from four Universities namely, the University of
Kerala, University of Calicut, Kannur University and Mahatma Gandhi University. There are
no B.Voc courses under Kannur University.
In the University of Kerala there are only two B. Voc courses namely Software
Development & Tourism and Hospitality Management. Mar Ivanios College
Thiruvananthapuram and St. Micheals College, Cherthala have both these programmes. The
number of students enrolled in these courses is below the sanctioned capacity of 60
students which varied from a low intake of 40 to a high intake of 51 students but the pass
percentage in Kerala University Colleges ranged between 31.25% and 85.10%. (Table -1)

In the case of University of Calicut, the B. Voc course is conducted in 7 aided

affiliated colleges. They include B.Voc Information Technology, Automobile Auto Electricals
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and Electronics, Multimedia, Software Development, Jewellery Designing, Jemmology,
Broadcasting and Journalism, Software Technologies, Digital Film Production, Medical
Laboratory technology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Tourism & Hospitality Management. As
per the details furnished by Calicut University, out of the 14 B.Voc courses offered in its
affiliated colleges, 5 of them have been discontinued while 7 of them have been converted
to self-financing mode. (Table -2).

Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam is offering B Voc courses through its 11

affiliated colleges. Here again the courses ranged from fashion Technology, sports Nutrition
and Physiotherapy, Retail Management and IT, Animation and Graphic Design, Broadcasting
and Journalism, Logistic Management and Renewable Energy Management. All these
courses are conducted by aided colleges and now they are being run in the Self Financing
stream as UGC funding has dried up. The number of seats in these courses are fixed at 50
with vacancies occurring periodically. (Table -3).

General Observations on the B. Voc courses

1) It is to be specifically noted that Clause 9 of UGC Guidelines stipulates that
“student fee should be decided as per the prevalent mechanism for fee fixation
for aided courses in the university/college”. It then implies that the B.Voc courses
can be started only in University/Government/Aided colleges.
2) The affiliated colleges were forced to either stop the B.Voc programmes or
convert them to self-financing courses after three years of UGC funding.
3) The fact that some of the courses had to be discontinued without even
converting them to self-financing mode is an actual pointer to the low
employability/skill development of these courses.
4) As regards the University of Kerala, it is seen that the pass percentage of B.Voc
courses is often abysmally low. Here, the pass percentage of B.Voc ‘Software
Development’ is as low as 42.22% in affiliated colleges while the same in the
Autonomous College that offered the course is just 31.25%. B.Voc ‘Tourism and
Hospitality Management’ in the same Autonomous College has witnessed a low
pass percentage of 50%. These instances amply testify to the failure of B.Voc
programmes in empowering the youth of the state.
5) It may also be noted that most of the sectors and specializations identified by the
UGC are already taken care of in the present Engineering and Management
education system in Kerala. For example,a course like ‘Hotel Management and
Catering Technology’ under B.Voc scheme has nothing new to offer since this is
already offered by a number of Hotel Management/Catering colleges/Institutions
across the state.
6) Moreover, since the UGC would provide financial assistance only for the initial
three years in terms of faculty remuneration and setting up of workshops/labs,
the initial enthusiasm generally dies out after the funds are expended. It will also
be a huge financial burden on the part of the state government to run the
courses after three years, since the fee structure stipulated by UGC is in line with
the aided stream.
7) It is learnt that many colleges are willingly exploiting this situation by obtaining
permission to convert the courses into self-financing mode whereby aspiring
candidates are forced to pay huge fees for the course, while at the same time

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 making no attempt to improve the infrastructure or other facilities for the
course. They totally rely on the already built up facilities made possible by UGC
funding.
8) In addition to the above, since the UGC has fixed an honorarium of Rs. 500 per
lecture for the existing faculty (aided stream) who would be used for engaging
B.Voc sessions, this practice would seriously affect the quality and functioning of
other regular aided courses in the college concerned, as the college would be
forced to recruit guest faculty to engage those classes.
9) Moreover, since the state’s approach in Higher Education sector has been
horizontal, with a strong sense of distributive justice and equity, starting such
courses in self-financing stream would negate the very purpose of educational
policies in the state.
10) The report from various Universities shows that after the initial enthusiasm
created by UGC funding; there is a tendency for the college to run these courses
on self financing mode.
11) The falling examination results, among other things, indicate that the teaching-
learning process of B. Voc courses are not up to the mark and curricular
objectives are not optimised.
12) The falling pass percentage testifies the failure of B. Voc programmes in
providing gainful employment to the graduates of these programmes.
13) The urban bias inherent in the structure and content of the B. Voc programmes
has adversely affected the popularity of the programme in remote and rurally
located colleges in the state.

Specific Recommendations Related to Starting of B. Voc Course in Snehacharya Institute of

Management and Technology, Alleppey
1) Snehacharya Multipurpose Educational Trust is an Educational Trust registered
under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 on 02/08/2002. The Trust established
SNEHACHARYA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT &TECHNOLOGY, Approved by All
India Council of Technical education, affiliated to University of Kerala &
recognized by Government of Kerala. They have affiliation for bachelor degree in
Hotel Management and Catering Technology (4 Years) with permission for
approved intake of 60 students.
2) B. Voc Course in Hotel Management and Catering Technology for which
permission is sought by the Snehacharya Institute of Management and
Technology is now offering the same course as a 4 year degree programme with
annual tuition fee of Rs. 60000/-. The BHMCT course is affiliated to the
University of Kerala.
3) There are several institutions offering the same or similar courses in the State. It
is offered as B.Voc programme in Tourism and Hospitality Management in other
affiliated colleges in Kerala University and other affiliating Universities.
4) B. Voc programmes, as per UGC guidelines, are given to Government/Aided
colleges and after the initial funding by UGC, student fee should be decided as
per the relevant, mechanism for fee fixation for aided courses in the University/
College. This clearly indicates that B. Voc courses are intended to supplement or
strengthen Aided or Government Courses/Colleges.

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 5) Snehacharya Institute of Management and Technology obtained a letter of
approval from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), not from the
UGC as in the case of other colleges, for the B. Voc Course in Hotel Management
and Catering. The affiliating Universities are following the UGC guidelines for the
conduct of B. Voc courses. The AICTE letter of approval is a new development
completely out of tune with the hitherto existing procedure for starting B. Voc
courses in the State.
6) Snehacharya Institute of Management and Technology is a self financing
institution. The proposed B. Voc course is not based on UGC guidelines which is
followed by other Institutions and Universities. The starting of such a course in a
self financing institution is not in line with the declared policy of the state
government.

Prepared by The Kerala State Higher Education Council

Table – 1 - Details of B.Voc. Course in the University of Kerala

Category Type Type Type Number of

Name of Name of
Sl.No. District of of of of sanctioned
College Course
College College UG/PG Course seats

B. Voc
Mar
Arts & Degree in
1 Ivanios Thiruvananthapuram Aided B. Voc
Science Software
College
Development
B. Voc
Mar Degree in
Arts &
2 Ivanios Thiruvananthapuram Aided B. Voc Tourism and
College
Science Hospitality
Management
B. Voc
Degree in
St. Arts &
3 Cherthala Aided B. Voc Tourism and
Micheals Science Hospitality
Management

Source . University of Kerala

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 Table – 2 - Details of B.Voc. Courses in the University of Calicut

Type No. of
Catego
Sl.N Name of Type of Type of of sancti
District ry of College
Name of Course oned
o. College UG/PG Cour
College seats
se
B. Voc Information
Technology
Farook Arts & B Voc (Stopped)
1 Kozhikode Aided SF
college Science B. Voc Automobile
Auto Electricals
and Electronics
B. Voc Multimedia
Sr. Mary’s Arts &
2 Thrissur Aided B Voc B Voc Software SF
College Science Development
B. Voc Multimedia
Carmel Arts &
3 Thrissur Aided B Voc B Voc Software SF
College Science Development
B. Voc Jewellery
St. Aloysius Arts &
4 Thrissur Aided B Voc Designing SF
College Science B. Voc Jemmology
B. Voc
(Broadcasting and
Sullamussala
Arts & Journalism)
5 m Science Aided B Voc SF
Science B. Voc Software
College Technologies
(Stopped)
Digital Film
Production
(Stopped)
St. Thomas Arts &
6 Thrissur Aided B Voc B .Voc Medical
College Science Laboratory
technology
(Stopped)
B. Voc
(Pharmaceutical
Little Flower Arts & Chemistry)
7 Thrissur Aided B Voc
College Science B. Voc (Tourism &
Hospitality
Management)
Source . University of Calicut

No. of students registered for final examination – 269

No. of students appeared for examination – 228
No. of students passed -212

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 Table 3, Details of B. Voc Course in the Mahatma Gandhi University
Number
Sl.No Name of Category Type of Type of Type of of
District Name of Course
. College of College College UG/PG Course sanction
ed seats

Alphonsa Arts & B.Voc. Fashion

1 Kottayam Aided B Voc SF 50
College Science Technology
B.Voc. Sports
Alphonsa Arts &
2 Kottayam Aided B Voc Nutrition & SF 50
College Science
Physiotherapy
B.Voc. Retail
Kuriakose
Arts & Management
3 Elias Kottayam Aided B Voc SF 50
Science & Information
College
Technology
B.Voc.
Kuriakose Marketing
Arts &
4 Elias Kottayam Aided B Voc Management SF 50
Science
College & Information
Technology
St. Thomas B.Voc.
Arts &
5 College, Kottayam Aided B Voc Sustainable SF 50
Science
Pala Agriculture
St. Thomas B.Voc. Food
Arts &
6 College, Kottayam Aided B Voc Processing SF 50
Science
Pala Technology
M.E.S. B.Voc.
Arts &
7 College, Ernakulam Aided B Voc Animation & SF 50
Science
Marampally Graphic Design
M.E.S.
Arts & B.Voc. Logistic
8 College, Ernakulam Aided B Voc SF 50
Science Management
Marampally
B.Voc-
Sree
Arts & Renewable
9 Sankara Ernakulam Aided B Voc SF 50
Science Energy
College
Management
Sree
Arts & B.Voc Tourism
10 Sankara Ernakulam Aided B Voc SF 50
Science & Hospitality
College
Sree B.Voc
Arts &
11 Sankara Ernakulam Aided B Voc Broadcasting SF 50
Science
College & Jounalism

Source . Mahatma Gandhi University

In the aided colleges affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, all the 11 courses which are
offered now are run in the self-financing mode.