A Vocational qualification is a certificate diploma or degree earned by completing a course of study or training programs focused on a specific trade craft or profession.

These qualifications combing Theoretical knowledge with hand-on practical skills to prepare individuals for direct entry into a specific job or industry, such as health care, Construction, Culinary arts or automotive repair.

Vocational Qualification are job focused and provide a clear path to employment and carrier advancement often requiring les time to complete then traditional academic degrees.

The UGC has issued guidelines for integrating vocational education and skills into higher education including offering

B.VOC (Bachelor of Vocational Studies) degrees, Community Colleges and internship/apprenticeship embedded degree programs these initiatives aim to improve student employability by aligning academic learning with industry needs providing multiple entry and exit points and enabling continuous skill development aligned with the national skills qualification framework (NSQF) National Occupational Standards (NOS) programs are designed in Consultation with industry to include NOS which define skills and knowledge required for effective job performance.

The UGC launched a scheme on skills development based higher education as a part of college/university education leading to bachelor of vocation B.VOC (Bachelor of Vocational Studies) which combines general education with specific job roles and National Occupation Standards (NOS) allowing students to gain practical skills for immediate employment or entrepreneurship.

The UGC mandates that Higher Education Institution (HEIs) can embed internships into degree programs to enhance employability

The UGC (University Grants Commission) will be replaced by a single, unified body called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI)

This proposed reform aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also aims to replace the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with the same HECI to stream line regulation and improve quality in higher education.