IGNOU partners with MSDE to establish 70 skill centres in nation

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish skill centres across the country and implement training under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prof Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU; Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE; and senior officials from both institutions.

The collaboration aims to integrate higher education with India’s skilling ecosystem and expand access to industry aligned training programmes. Under the MoU, skill centres will be set up across all 70 IGNOU regional centres to offer National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned courses.

IGNOU has a network of 70 regional centres and over 2,400 learner support centres, will function as training partners under PMKVY 4.0. The university will utilise its digital and blended learning infrastructure and its role as an NCVT recognised awarding body to deliver programmes designed to boost employability and entrepreneurship.

Key components of the agreement include infrastructure support from IGNOU, accreditation and affiliation through MSDE, training of trainers through sector skill councils, placement support via industry partnerships, and credit linked pathways aligned with the National Education Policy. Training outcomes will be digitally tracked through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).

Calling the initiative transformative, the VC highlighted that the partnership would expand skilling access to underserved groups. She emphasised, “The initiative will strengthen opportunities for women, rural youth, first generation learners, and workers in the informal sector. The collaboration is also expected to strengthen local job ecosystems and contribute to a future-ready workforce.”

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a unified national framework where academic learning and skill development were seamlessly integrated to support India’s economic growth and global competitiveness.