Vocational Education and Training (VET) at Higher Education in India: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

Education is a major source of productivity and growth because it increases the productivity of human capital and it contributes to overall increase in economic growth. Quality education is today’s need as it is the source of development of skills and knowledge. It equips the learners with the arts and skills required for becoming successful professionals, decision makers and trainers. Skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development for any country. Countries with higher and better levels of skills face the challenges and opportunities of the world of work more effectively. On a long-term basis, up to 2022, it is expected that India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 8%. It is expected that India will be a home to a skilled workforce of 500 million persons by 2022. Thus various Central and State Governments and Universities are concentrating to impart vocational courses through innovative programmes / institutions especially launched for achieving these purposes. To achieve these goals, India needs flexible contemporary, relevant, inclusive and creative vocational education and training system that will provide the foundation for learning, secondary and tertiary education and to develop required competencies as means of achieving lifelong learning. Vocational Education and Training (VET) is an important element of the nation’s education initiative. Tamil Nadu Open University is the pioneer for providing vocational education and training education in South India. In this paper the author emphasizes the need and importance for introducing vocational education at higher and tertiary levels by the Universities.