UGC urges Universities to adopt Apprenticeship-embedded Degree Programs

The University Grants Commission (UGC) directed higher education institutions (HEIs) to implement the key guidelines to the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) for undergraduate students in order to allow students to do an apprenticeship and receive practical experience while studying starting the next academic session of July 2025.

The higher education regulator also issued its guidelines on ADEP on Monday. According to the guidelines, colleges and universities can embed an apprenticeship or work experience in real life vocational training into a regular degree course to a job-ready student. Under the AEDP, undergraduate students will have no choice but to carry an apprenticeship as part of their degree programme.

“The major objectives of AEDP are to enhance the employability of students, focus on outcome-based learning, promote active linkage between higher educational institutions and industries and bridge the skill gap in the industries,” UGC secretary Manish Joshi said in the notice.

The UGC is setting a credit system by awarding students 10 academic credit in total for a three month apprenticeship. Any HEI can run or offers AEDP programme if it meets one of the criteria of being ranked in the university category in the latest National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), in addition to having a valid grade or score from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), or having a NAAC accreditation with compliance with the UGC specified minimally.