29-04-2025
Campus Talk: Specialised UG courses in Maharashtra to have mandatory apprenticeship from this academic year
Soon, there will be specialised undergraduate (UG) degree programmes in Maharashtra which will entail a new mandatory component – apprenticeship, to ensure students learn real-world skills while studying. The development comes after the state government last week gave approval for the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP), scheduled to commence in the 2025-26 academic year, starting June, in non-agricultural universities in the state.
The programme is backed by guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the state's higher and technical education department has issued detailed instructions for universities in Maharashtra.
While affiliated colleges can offer AEDP basis guidelines issued by their university, it will be mandatory for each university to enroll a minimum of 300 students in AEDP. Soon a dedicated online system will be made available for student registration.
As per the Government Resolution (GR), AEDPs will be specially curated courses by universities in their sector of expertise along with relevant industry partners where students can pursue apprenticeships while studying.
'The AEDP will involve a close coordination between university authorities, representatives of industries, skill development departments, business houses, sector skill councils, Board of Apprentice Training, National Apprentice Training Scheme, and other establishments to curate courses aligned with industry needs so that students are ready for jobs once graduated,' stated the GR.
The AEDP aims to foster employment-ready graduates by combining classroom instruction with hands-on training in industry settings, by offering apprenticeships to students with industry partners. Universities will have to work closely with sector-specific industries to create tailored courses. These courses will offer 20-22 credits per semester and will entail components such as major and minor subjects, skill development courses, and on-the-job training, whereas the vertical of Open Electives or General Electives should include multidisciplinary courses.
An official from the state's higher and technical education department said that with less than two months left for the academic year 2025-26 to start, universities are instructed to set up dedicated coordination mechanisms for the effective rollout of AEDP. 'The Board of Deans will be responsible for curriculum development, implementation, and quality monitoring of AEDPs. Additionally, an online system will be established for student registration, progress tracking, and stipend disbursement,' the officer added.
