UGC has introduced DDU KAUSHAL KENDRAS (DDUKK) for promoting vocational education in continuation to its initiatives for introducing community colleges and B.Voc Programmes realizing the importance and the necessity for developing skills among students, and creating work ready manpower on large scale. These Centres are expected to take-up the vocational education to new levels and offer courses beyond B.Voc. Degree courses. These Centres have to embed and follow the guiding principles of National Skill Qualification Frame work (NSQF), QPs, and NOSs for their programmes and should not focus on skilling alone but also develop entrepreneurship traits.
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is the only University in the state which has been selected by University Grants Commission and has sanctioned four crore for establishing DDUKK. CUSAT aims at providing quality vocational education through DDUKK combining class room centered formal education and training with experience sharing of Industry practitioners and internships in industry and business houses. The focus is towards integrated knowledge acquisition and upgrading human skill towards creating a new league of employable youth. Teaching and training methodology of courses offered under DDUKK are designed accordingly. Many business firms have shown interest to sign MOUs with the centre for providing their expertise in administering courses and sharing resources to ensure and enhance the employability of the young graduates. DDUKK has initiated steps to develop collaborations with international experts to get their support in providing excellent skills development programmes in the Centre.
This centre aims equally at knowledge acquisition and skills development for employment along with entrepreneurship skills development through its curriculum, in an innovative and flexible manner. The innovative programmes at DDUKK Cochin University provide a great opportunity for ‘skilling’ students with skill-based, job-oriented degrees under the title “M. Voc” (Master of Vocation). The uniqueness of the degree is such that it has multiple exit points with job opportunity at each stage. The course has been designed to provide skill education with hands on experience by specifically defining the job role and providing necessary skills for it.
Objectives of KAUSHAL KENDRA
Courses Offered in DDU KAUSHAL KENDRA, CUSAT
CUSAT offers two M. Voc. Programmes in DDUKK during the academic year 2015-16 as shown below with multiple entry and exit options.
The programmes are four semester masters programme with multiple entry and exit options. That is, the M.Voc. Courses are designed in such a way that students who successfully complete first two semesters can discontinue the programme if they wish and can get a Post-graduate Diploma in the respective trade as shown below:
Those who continue the course further and finish four semesters successfully shall be eligible for M.Voc. Degree. Students who discontinue after second semester with P.G. Diploma may be permitted to take lateral entry to third semester on a later time if they wish to do so and can finish their M.Voc Degree. P.G diploma holders in mobile phone application development will be equipped to work in application development projects. While, M.Voc holders will be equipped to work as independent application developers who can conceptualize, design and launch apps in the market place. P. G diploma holders in Technology and Management Consulting will be equipped to work in consulting projects. While M. Voc. Holders will be equipped to conceptualize, design and lead consulting projects and they would also be competent for establishing their own consulting ventures.