Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced a partnership between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and TeamLease Edtech to merge academic learning with practical work experience, establishing a new benchmark for higher education and employability.
The collaboration aims to foster employability through skill development by endorsing work-integrated degree programmes. Diversity, TeamLease EdTech’s tech-first platform, will synergise with Skill India Digital, offering candidates enhanced access to higher education and employment opportunities.
Diversity prepares students for professions by providing them with workplace skills and academic knowledge. Collaborating with universities and enterprises, it offers work-related degree programmes that bridge the gap between education and employment.
Speaking about the development, Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO, TeamLease EdTech, said, “Digivarsity is poised to initiate a shift in India’s higher education sector. We are committed to invest Rs 100 crore over the next five years to expand the platform and reach more than 10 lakh students. The skills required by today’s employers are best learned through real-world learning environments in collaboration with industry partners. Our objective is to furnish students with the skills needed by the job market, thereby shaping the workforce of tomorrow.”
The launch of Digivarsity addresses significant challenges for both, companies and institutions. The platform reflects the vision for the future of higher education in India as envisioned by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC, added, “Participants of the Work-Integrated Degree Programmes will receive on-the-job internships or apprenticeships, granting them substantial skills and work experience upon graduation and a distinct advantage over fresh graduates. Furthermore, each student will receive a monthly stipend to support their education and living expenses, realising the ‘Earn while you Learn’ concept.”