ET Education and Coursera: Advancing For-Credit Online Learning in India
Indian universities are integrating job-aligned and credit-eligible online content into curricula, boosting graduate employability in line with the National Education Policy.
Amid India's push for skill-based education, ET Education and Coursera hosted a webinar with higher education leaders, exploring how universities can adopt credit-eligible online learning to boost graduate employability.
The discussion emphasizes how industry-aligned micro-credentials can equip students with in-demand skills. Integrating these credentials into curricula aligns with forward-looking frameworks like India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, National Credit Framework (NCrF) and National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). Together, these empower institutions to bridge the divide between traditional learning and skill development.
Highlights
Universities are increasingly prioritizing a skills-first, multidisciplinary approach to learning, forging strong industry partnerships to ensure graduates are equipped for jobs.
UGC's Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programs allows students to earn up to 40% of credits in any category through online courses.
The National Credit Framework (NCrF) has provisions that make platform-neutral online learning eligible for credit.
The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) facilitates the adoption of credit-eligible, industry-developed courses in higher education.
The National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) recognizes hybrid, blended, and fully online learning as valid modes of education.
Micro-credentials revolutionize pre-employment skilling, particularly sought by the tech and banking industries to ensure graduates possess industry-specific skills.
Unext Manipal CEO, Ambrish Sinha, praises micro-credentials on Coursera offered by companies like Meta, Google, and IBM, highlighting their role in enhancing student job readiness and strengthening university-industry ties. Sinha sees micro-credential adoption as part of a larger trend toward shorter, more focused learning formats like nano-credentials.
Dr. Neena Pahuja, Executive Member of the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), reiterates the importance of aligning curriculum with industry demands. "To ensure graduates are industry-ready, the UGC mandates that a significant portion of students' coursework must be skill-based,” she remarks. In the video below, Dr. Pahuja outlines NCVET's vision of empowering India’s youth with future skills through blended learning, an approach that leverages credit-eligible online content to strengthen India's position as a global skills hub.
The discussion also touches upon equipping students for emerging fields like AI. Professor ORS Rao, Chancellor of ICFAI University Sikkim, mentions the demand for multidisciplinary skills in lucrative areas like prompt engineering, urging institutions to partner with platforms like Coursera to provide students with relevant learning resources. This need underscores the growing focus on empowering faculty with tools to keep course content aligned with industry trends.
As higher education evolves, integrating credit-eligible online learning into pre-existing curricula can help institutions adapt quickly. By aligning curriculum to industry trends, institutions can boost academic excellence, elevate their reputation, and increase enrollment. Most importantly, they can prepare graduates for successful and fulfilling careers. Watch the webinar to learn more.
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.