Governor’s approval expected for MU vocational courses

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 10, 2015: Mangalore University is set to enable degree colleges in its jurisdiction to offer vocational courses in automobiles, information and technology, telecommunication, marketing and agriculture sector. According to the plans,  the Governor who is Chancellor of university, needs to  approve  ’regulations governing Vocational Programmes’ passed by the Academic Council, colleges may start the course from 2015-16.

Colleges will be able to introduce diploma, advanced diploma and degree courses, syllabus is  being drawn up. Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof K Byrappa said UGC - University Grants Commission, in its letter dated August 24, 2012, had informed that Ministry of Human Resource Development has formulated a National Vocational Education Qualification Frame Work (NVEQF) under the aegis of which it has envisioned to create 500 million skilled man power by 2020 to meet the future requirements of  industry for employment.   Under NVEQF, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has identified 10 broad vocational sectors with each sector offering number of specialisations. Based on this, UGC has prepared a scheme for introducing vocational education in higher education sector and has instructed the Universities to implement this scheme in the colleges under its jurisdiction.

For example, automobile sector offers specialisation in engine testing, vehicle testing, vehicle quality testing, auto electricals and electronics,and farm equipment and machinery.  In entertainment sector, specialisation offered are theatre and stage craft, contemporary dance, theatre studies and acting and so on.

The specialisation in IT are software development and in telecommunication it is mobile communication. In the agriculture sector, there may be five specialisations namely farm machinery and power engineering, green house technology, renewable energy, food processing and engineering, and soil and water conservation. In applied arts, its is fashion technology, fashion arts designing, interior design and jewellery design.

The specialisation in tourism and printing and publishing are tourism and service industry and printing technology respectively.

Under vocational diploma (level 5), a candidate who has passed PUC in Karnataka or other examination considered equivalent to PUC by the Mangalore University and candidates qualifying from polytechnic with equivalent qualification to higher education are eligible for admission. For Vocational advanced diploma, a candidate who has passed B. Vocational Diploma examination or first year Bachelors degree examination of Mangalore University or any other university considered equivalent are eligible. For B Vocation degree (level 7), a candidate who has passed B Vocational Advanced diploma examination or second year bachelors degree exam of Mangalore University or other university considered equivalent are eligible for admission, it added.

The regulation said duration of diploma, advanced diploma and degree courses separately should be of one academic year comprising two semesters. A candidate enrolled for any of the three courses will have to complete them within three years.