A

Presentation
on
“Employability through Apprenticeship and Internship”
For the National Workshop (supported under RUSA/PM-USHA)

Coordinating University

M.J.P. Rohilkhand University- Bareilly (U.P)

(NAAC A++, UGC Category-I University)

Co-coordinating Universities
•Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli
•Cochin University of Science and Technology (U-0253), Ernakulum
•Goa University, Goa(U-0121),North Goa
•Berhampur University, Berhampur Ganjam- Odisha

Coordinating SPD of the State of Goa:

Shri Bhushan K. Savoikar
Nodal Officer:
Dr. Avichal Kapur, Joint Secretary, UGC
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

Content of the Presentation

1. Introduction
2. Understand the current landscape of skill development in India.
3. Sector-Wise Demand for Skilled Workforce
4. Explore challenges and policies.
5. Global Benchmarking /Models for apprenticeship/Internship
6. Strategies to meet challenges
7. Few feasible suggestions
8. Strategic framework
9. Final takeaway
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

1. Introduction

 India has over 52% of its population under age 30 —its biggest demographic dividend.

 Despite producing over 10M graduates annually, less than 50% are employable.

 Employability aspect is crucial for economic growth of the nation.

 Apprenticeships & internships are powerful tools to align education with employment.

 This presentation explores:

 Indian system’s progress, gaps, and reforms.

 Global best practices.

 Future roadmap aligning with NEP 2020, UGC & AICTE mandates.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

2. Current landscape of skill development in India

• India’s Youth – An Unmatched Advantage Population under 30: 52%
• Graduates produced annually: 10+ million Employability rate: Only 40–47%
• Unemployment rate (2024): 8.1% Target: 400 million skilled workforce by 2030

High elastic demand sectors (manufacturing, technology driven service sector) contributes nearly 70-80% in economy but have
a employable man force of only 40%, whereas inelastic demand sectors shares only 20% in economy but engage 60% of the
nation manpower.

3. Sector-Wise Demand for Skilled Workforce

• AI/ML & IT: 1.5M jobs by 2026
• Electric Vehicles: 1M jobs by 2030
• Healthcare: 2.5M skilled workers needed by 2028
• Agri-tech: High demand for drone pilots & precision farming experts
• Manufacturing/Infra: 10M workforce requirement under PM Gati Shakti
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) approach

• Combines formal education with practical work experience which Includes:
Apprenticeships
Internships
On-the-job training
Industrial visits
• Promoted through NEP 2020, UGC, AICTE internship mandates
Importance of Apprenticeship & Internship
• Real-time skill application in workplace
• Enhances soft skills: communication, teamwork, problem-solving
• Builds industry linkages for HEIs
• Helps in regional and MSME development
• Reduces youth unemployment and improves national productivity
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

4. Challenges
The possible reasons of Skills Gap
 Education system is largely theoretical and outdated.
 Lack faculty- industry interactions.
 Mismatch in curriculum vs. industry demand.
 Resistance to shift from traditional pedagogy.
 Lack of trained experts in modern technologies in high-demand technology driven sectors:.
AI/ML, EVs, Drones, Agriculture, Healthcare, IT Enabled Services, Manufacturing sector.
 Lack of exposure of students to industry environment.
 Limited awareness, career guidance & mentorship.
 Low industry participation, MSME’s, Public & Private sectors.
 least industry interest, responsible for sub standard/poor apprenticeship/internship.
 Fragmented training platforms & lack of national integration in policy making.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

Indian Policy Support for Skill Development

• Apprentices Act, 1961 – Legal framework.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) – Incentivizing Apprenticeship.
• Skill India Mission – Focused on job creation.
• National Internship Portal – Centralized system for internship discovery
• Budget 2023-24: ₹1.7 lakh crore for direct skill initiatives
• Budget 2025 (Proposal): Unified Skill India Digital Platform
• NEP 202 promotes:
Flexibility: multiple entry/exit
Credit transfer & academic bank
Vocational education from school level
• National Credit Framework (NCrF):
Links school to higher education with skills integration
Credits for internships and apprenticeships

Despite of all these efforts , overall youth employment registered a decline from 44.3% to
42.6% compared to previous year.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

5. Global Benchmarking /Models for apprenticeship/Internship

Country Formal Training % Key Model

Germany 74% Dual Vocational Education (VET)
South Korea 96% "Employment First, College Later"
USA 50–55% Industry-College Partnerships
China 45-50% Skill + Tech Schools Integration
India < 2.3% Largely theoretical education

The global best skilling model include:

• Strong linkage between school enrolling and enterprise recruitment,
• Double-wing (schools and enterprises) education system
• The dual identity of students and apprentices
• Clear legal relationship among the academia, enterprises and apprentices/students.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

6. Strategies to meet challenges

Strategy to boost employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

1. ACADEMIA

 Curriculum Integration
Mandatory 6-12 month apprenticeships/internships worth 10-20 credits under UGC's Credit Framework.
Academic Calendar Restructuring
Flexible Scheduling Options: such as Parallel track: Evening/weekend internships alongside regular
coursework, Micro-internships, Short, project-based engagements.
 Active Academia-Industry Partnership/collaborations
Training & placement cell to coordinate with industries, maintain internship/apprenticeship databases,
provide student support services, internship-to-placement conversion and Faculty training on industry-
aligned pedagogy,
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

 Promotion of research Apprenticeship/internship

• MOU,s with research institutions, or corporate R&D departments under the guidance of professors or
senior scientists.
• Faculty to involve students in live projects, co-authored papers, and patents.
• Apprenticeship opportunities for students in leading national and international research organizations.

 Quality Assurance
• A robust quality assurance framework to ensure apprenticeships and internships effectively enhance
employability must be implemented.
• Adoption of Performance tracking system of Apprenticeship/Internship, including:
student placement rates.
salary premiums.
employer feed back and satisfaction scores.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

2. Industries/Corporate world

• Abide to follow established clear and consistent legal framework of Government.

• Empowers apprenticeship stakeholders with defined rights and responsibilities.
• Effective tie-ups with Universities/HEI’s and provide capacity utilization flexibility to the interns.
• Enthusiastic participation in various activities at Universities/HEI’s.
• Equipped with advanced training resources to impart quality Apprenticeship/Internship as per market
demands.
• Provide effective skill training in emerging areas (IT, AI, e- commerce, healthcare, renewable energy
etc) to capture emerging global job opportunities.
• Ensure safe, healthy and conducive environment for the interns.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

3. Government/Regulatory bodies

• Government to established multi-pronged ecosystem to promote apprenticeships and internships.

• Policy & Scheme Expansion by increasing number of apprentices availability.
• Develop easy and unified digital platform to cater information regarding apprenticeship/internship in a
single click.
• Regulatory Support to all streams of studies such as mandatory 14-20 week internships for engineers
(AICTE)
• State/District-Level Implementation of skill programs at district level via Zila Udyog Kendra, local
led private industries, government organizations(banks etc).
• Government has to sweep there arms in terms of incentives to attract more youth for participate in
apprenticeship/ internship programs.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

7. Few feasible suggestions

1. Industry sponsored Apprenticeship program

Industry sponsored courses are fully sponsored by that industry with wage support and job matching for
their specific needs.
Sponsoring Industry guarantees employment of the trainee after successful completion of the course.

Target Industries: This approach is very effective in developing a skilled manpower in specific areas of
science & technology.

Semiconductors, ICT, Smart Manufacturing, Renewable Energy,5G, Robotics, Block chain, Medical &
health care, Tourism, Agriculture, and Aquaculture.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

2. Dual mode of education system

Incorporate mix features of Germany’s and USA education model, thereby proposing a new model of
education in India emphasizing on fundamental knowledge and skill training.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

3. Campus Industrial Parks: A revolutionary approach

• Develop in house Campus Industrial Parks (CI Parks) on University unused land.
• Universities/HEI’s which lacks in local/regional industrial sector and students have no industrial
exposure get advantage from this initiative.

• Fostering industry-academia collaboration, promoting entrepreneurship, and showcasing cutting-

edge technology.

• CI Parks boosts research, student development, and capacity building for Indian industries and
Universities.

• Industries to collaborate on new projects, supported by shared utilities and infrastructure such as
laboratories and testing facilities of Universities.

• Effective approach to bring industry to University/HEI’s.

 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

8. Strategic framework

Short term goals

Phase 1: Laying the Groundwork & Policy Alignment (2025–2026)

Objective: Build institutional mechanisms, form key partnerships, and ensure policy alignment

Long term goals

Phase 2: Domain-Specific Rollout (2026–2027)

Objective: Deploy customized apprenticeship and internship models across various academic
disciplines

Phase 3: Expansion & Institutionalization (2027–2030)

Objective: Assure long-term impact, quality, and inclusivity.

.
 Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

9. Final take away

Transitioning to hands-on, work-based learning via

Apprenticeship/Internship, boosts Indian youth's practical skills,
employability, and national competitiveness, aligning with the vision of
“Viksit Bharat 2047”, and realizing our demographic dividend's full
potential.
Employability through Apprenticeship/Internship

THANK YOU