KAUSHALYA: THE SKILL UNIVERSITY: EXAMINING THE NEED FOR A SHIFT IN THE PARADIGM OF CURRICULUM DESIGN FOR INSTITUTION-INDUSTRY INTEGRATION IN THE CONTEXT OF NEP-2020

Abstract

The paper aims to study Kaushalya: The Skill University using a qualitative case study method to find out alternative model curriculum design making institution-industry integration possible. The quality of education is directly proportional to its curriculum design. Curriculum design is an endeavour to meet the specific objectives of teaching and learning. NEP-2020, with its purpose to restructure the educational ecosystem for skill development and employability, envisions skill-based universities with its multidisciplinary approach to producing skill-smart students who can contribute to Atmanirbhar Bharat. Kaushalya: The Skill University with its vision to promote skill-based education, training, and entrepreneurship development with the institution-industry integration is leapfrogging towards contributing to the Prime Minister of India’s vision of making India the skill capital of the world by skilling, upskilling and reskilling the future generation by improving and increasing the employability for futuristic jobs. The university has made a paradigm shift in its curriculum design to ensure competency-based learning to strengthen the core skills of its students so that they can cope with the demands of industry 4.0. The university facilitates academic learning by designing an industry-based curriculum so that it can bridge the gap between academia and industry by equipping its students with digital competence and industry-based skills. The significance of the paper is its focus on the study of an alternative model of institution-industry integration. Its implication will be on the present and future academic curriculum of higher education.