Courses like BVoc in Entrepreneurship Skills empower aspiring entrepreneurs to be job creators rather than jobseekers. These courses mentor them to start and run a business, says Dr Rajendra Kumar Joshi
Ajay, a middle-class boy from Jaipur, was clear while choosing a skill university with a goal to master the skills needed to start his own establishment. But, he was confused as about the skill he should consider and also how to start his enterprise.
Many of us have the same dreams, but to follow them, we follow a lengthy approach which is to first graduate and then do an MBA. After academics, start exploring the shortlisted ideas, gather information, make feasibility reports, research and analyse the market in every possible way; everything by ourselves. After doing everything, there’s still hesitation as it is his first venture. That’s the story most students aspiring to become entrepreneurs.
There is a myth that skills’ courses are meant for those who want to join jobs in their chosen skill sets. Aspirants ignore the bigger picture of enterprise development which academia, universities and the Government are trying to address by introducing courses like Bachelor of Vocational Education (BVoc) in entrepreneurship.
The Government has realised the value of start-ups and new entrepreneurial ventures as this is the only way to outperform on the global stage. India is home to 3,100 start-ups per year, ranking behind the US, the UK and Israel, according to a 2015 NASSCOM report. It is anticipated that India will be home to the 112 million working population in the age group of 20-24 as compared to 94 million in China. So many young brains at work will surely help the entrepreneurship ecosystem to prosper in the nation.
Road Ahead
The sector is expected to grow faster with the Government’s thrust to support entrepreneurship in the country. New ideas and employment opportunities with good career growth is on offer to those who join this course.
The Government has introduced more than 50 new start-up schemes. A good number of institutions like National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, National Institute for Micro Small Medium Enterprises, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Institute of Entrepreneurship development have been conducting short and long duration entrepreneurship development programmes.
Many States have come up with State Skill Development Corporations (SSDCs). The SSDCs and several other institutes are conducting programmes funded by Ministry of Skill and Entrepreneurship Development as per the qualification packs and national occupational standards.
Establishment of skill universities by many States has signalled the transformation of India’s higher education with a strong tilt towards skills education to generate employment and to facilitate better industry-academia interface.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued instructions for offering BVoc, MVoc and PhD in Entrepreneurship Skills in the list of degrees that can be awarded by the universities under Section 22 of the UGC Act. However, over 800 universities in the country are still offering conventional degrees.
All skill universities, namely, Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University (HVSU), Institute of Leadership Development (ILD), Symbiosis Skills and Open University (SSOU), Team Lease Skills University (TLSU), Centurion University, Seacom Skills University and Bhartiya Skill Development University have come together and formed an association of Indian Skills Universities. The objective is to convert the job seekers into job generators. This course will inculcate the positive attitude, business culture and empower the students to start their micro enterprise.
Skills
A focused vocational skill development programme like BVoc in Entrepreneurship Skills will:
- Motivate students towards self-employment through positive Attitude.
- Equip the students with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.
- Enable students to assess the commercial viability of new/existing business opportunities.
- Encourage students to start a micro enterprise.
- Enable the students to create an entrepreneurial environment by providing jobs.
- Enable the students to secure gainful wage employment if required.
- Permit the students to take up competitive exams of all nature at the Centre and State services like any other graduate.
The role of skill development universities doesn’t end by just equipping students with the necessary skills. They also provide mentoring and support after completion of the course. Many institutes have established incubation centres to nurture the business ideas of the aspirant entrepreneurs, extend guidance, mentorship, proper handholding to start and run the business. Skill universities across the nation have tie-ups with their State skill ministry and allied Government bodies to help students in every possible way.
Eligibility Required
The eligibility for the programme is Class XII (10+2) passed with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM). Or Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) after Class X or Polytechnic diploma will be considered as equivalent to 10+2. Looking at the increasing demand, the UGC has now given BVoc courses a status equivalent to a graduation degree and the students after completing BVoc courses can definitely compete for Government jobs. Admission will be through an entrance exam or based on the merit of the qualifying the exam. One of the specialties of the BVoc courses is that they are modular in nature with multiple entry and exit points at certificate (after six months), diploma (after one-year), advanced diploma (after two-years) and BVoc (after three years).
It is a matter of importance for students to select the right avenue at the right time to make a successful professional career.
The writer is the founder, Bhartiya Skill Development University, Jaipur