Kurukshetra varsity signs MoU with apprenticeship board

Kurukshetra University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Board of Apprenticeship Training (Northern Region) for the implementation of the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP).

Deputy Director, Public Relations, Dr Jimmy Sharma said the MoU was signed during the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Tuesday in the presence of Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education (DHE), Ministry of Education.

In his keynote address, Vineet Joshi applauded Kurukshetra University for implementing AEDP under NEP 2020. Joshi noted that these programmes not only enhanced students’ academic competencies but also empowered them to take confident steps toward self-reliance through industry-relevant training.

Prof Som Nath Sachdeva, Vice-Chancellor; Prof Manjula Chaudhary, director, Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE); and Dr Mahender Kumar, placement officer, represented Kurukshetra University at the MoU signing ceremony.

Sachdeva expressed pride in the university becoming the first in Haryana to implement AEDP. He also stated that the initiative was a strategic move to bridge the gap between academia and the real-world needs of industry. He emphasised the university’s broader vision of fostering employability and entrepreneurial spirit among its students.

Prof Manjula Chaudhary affirmed the university’s full commitment to the effective execution of the programme. She explained that under AEDP, final-year students would undergo hands-on industrial training.

The Deputy Director, Public Relations, said the event also featured the presentation of several key higher education initiatives, including AEDP and AI Apprenticeship, reflecting innovation in the field. Kurukshetra University’s MoU with BOAT (Northern Region) marked a historic moment, as the university became the first in Haryana to implement AEDP. Following the launch ceremony, dignitaries visited the on-site exhibition. The broader event continued with thematic sessions exploring various dimensions of NEP 2020.

Rohtak university inks pact too

With an aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry, Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Board of Apprenticeship Training (Northern Region), Kanpur, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, at a formal ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The MoU facilitates the implementation of apprenticeship embedded degree programmes (AEDP) under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS).

These programmes are aligned with the University Grants Commission’s 2025 guidelines and integrate on-the-job training into undergraduate degree curricula — ranging from a one semester to four semesters.

On behalf of the MDU, the MoU was signed by Registrar Krishan Kant. Ashish Dahiya and Santosh Tewari joined the exchange ceremony in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Rajbir Singh.