MSDE inaugurate 33 Extension Centres to link Vocational Education with Higher Ed

Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, and Professor Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) inaugurated 33 Extension Centres, aimed at strengthening the vocational and technical training framework in the skill ecosystem.

The inauguration of the IGNOU-MSDE Extension Centres at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI) will help in meeting the aspirations of the country’s youth who are undertaking skill and trade-based programmes. These programmes, which are being offered through the network of 2,140 Logistics Skill Councils (LSC), are expected to open new opportunities for candidates who are looking forward to upgrading their knowledge and skills by joining IGNOU. 

Appreciating the efforts of IGNOU officials and expressing his thoughts on the collaboration, Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, MSDE, stated, “India’s young demographic dividend is its biggest asset and there is an urgent need to provide the youth of the country with meaningful pathways to receive quality high education as well as skill, and vocational training. I am confident that this initiative will provide higher social and economic mobility to our youth. My appeal to all the officials of the ministry and NSTIs is that they should encourage the youth undertaking skill and trade-based knowledge from various NSTIs, ITIs, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Kendras and Jan Shikshan Sansthans to enrol in various undergraduate programmes of IGNOU. This will immensely help them in advancing their skills, becoming the pillars of self-reliant India.

Speaking on the occasion IGNOU’s vice-chancellor Professor Nageshwar Rao highlighted the importance of skill training and elaborated on the programmes being offered through 33 NSTIs across the country. Currently, IGNOU is offering more than 100 Undergraduate/Post-Graduate courses and more than 150 need-based Certificate/Diploma programmes. NSTI Indore, Noida, Kanpur, Tura in Meghalaya, Jammu, Bhubaneswar, and Mumbai have expressed their happiness for the opportunities being extended to their students. As per the agreement, a project steering committee will be set up with representatives from both MSDE and IGNOU to monitor and review the progress of the programme.

Prof. R.P. Das, Pro-Vice Chancellor, IGNOU and other professors expressed that the collaboration with MSDE will help many students in finding better job opportunities through the designed courses. Dr Srikant Mohpatra, Director, Regional Services Division, IGNOU conducted the inauguration.