proposal

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Knowledge Partnership Proposal
for establishment of
New Skill Universities
Submitted to
Ministry of Skill Education and Entrepreneurship Development,
Government of Maharashtra
by
Symbiosis Open Education Society, Pune

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About Symbiosis
Symbiosis was started in 1971, by visionary educationist Padma Bhushan Dr. Shantaram
Balwant Mujumdar mainly as a 'home away from home' for foreign students studying in Pune.
Since its inception, Symbiosis has grown into a large education group with schools and colleges
spread across 20 campuses. Symbiosis has thousands of students from all across India and 80
countries studying in various on-campus programs.
Symbiosis Open Education Society (SOES) was established to promote vocational, skill based
education and open & distance learning. SOES has four constituent units under its aegis -
Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL), Symbiosis Vocational Junior College,
Symbiosis Community College and Symbiosis Institute of Skill Development.
Symbiosis Experience & Expertise in Setting up Skills Universities
Study of Skill Development University Model
Symbiosis has been doing research in the area of skill development for the past 10 years. During
this period, Symbiosis has studied various foreign models of Germany, China, UK, Australia,
Sri Lanka. Interactions have been carried out with stakeholders from the area of skill
development in the above mentioned countries to understand the models and their applicability
in the Indian scenario.
To understand the need for establishing a Skill Development University in Maharashtra, a
survey of over 2500 vocational students and 376 faculty from ITIs and Vocational Jr colleges
across 20 Districts of Maharashtra was carried out. Feedback shows that all students surveyed
are aspiring for higher education but do not have vertical mobility options. Similarly, all the
faculties are extremely positive about establishment of a Skill university and feel that this will
help popularize the Skill Development sector and address the issues of social acceptability
associated with the Skilling sector. It was also found that the students having skills are not
inclined to take up skill courses by choice due to lack of vertical mobility options. Faculty are
also keen on doing applied research which will help industry to innovate in the products they
offer or materials they use, however such opportunities of applied research are unavailable
today in our conventional universities.
Symbiosis has also conducted surveys across industries including CII, FICCI and MCCIA to
understand the concerns of the industry with regards to the current education system and the
lack of availability of skilled human resource.
Based on years of research Symbiosis has developed a model of Skills University relevant to
the Indian context that incorporated the best practices from other countries and addresses the
needs of the Indian economy.
Today, Symbiosis has two Skill Development Universities, located at Indore & Pune, providing
skill based education, contextualised to the regional requirements and addressing the needs of
skilled workforce at all levels.

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Symbiosis Skills Universities
Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Indore is a self-financed University located at
Indore.
With an investment of over Rs. 300 crores, Symbiosis has created a state of art infrastructure
spread over 30 acres of land. This sprawling campus has a total built up area of approx. 7,
50,000 sq.ft and is one of the largest educational campuses in Madhya Pradesh. The University
has collaborated with over 20 leading industries such as Volvo Eicher, MAN Trucks, John
Deere, JCB, ZF, Reliance Capital, Future Group, L&T, HDFC Bank etc. To implement the
applied model of skill education, SUAS has collaborated with 12 German Universities of
Applied Sciences. The unique programs that are relevant to the region include – BBA in BFSI,
Retail; B.Tech. in Computer Science, Mechatronics and Automobile; MBA in BFSI etc.
Besides, it also conducts many short term skill courses for skilling and re-skilling.
Symbiosis Skills and Open University, Pune – Maharashtra’s FIRST Skill Development
University
Taking the mission of Skill India forward, Symbiosis Open Education Society announced the
establishment of Maharashtra’s first Skill Development University called the Symbiosis
Skills and Open University at Kiwale, Pune. The University was enacted through a bill
passed by State Legislation on 3rd May 2017.
The state-of-the art campus has been constructed on 15 acres of land with specialised
laboratories, workshops and center of excellence having specialised skill training equipment
and machines. The University offers Certificates, Diplomas and Degree programs in high
growth sectors such as Automobile, Construction, Mechatronics, Architecture, Retail, Ports
& Terminal Management, Beauty & Wellness etc. with multi entry exit and credit banking
options. The objective of the University is to create ‘industry ready’ youth who can be
gainfully employed upon completion of their courses.
The University will also have a Community College and a Vocational & Employment
Guidance Cell which will offer career guidance and livelihood oriented short term courses to
local farmers, women and school drop outs.

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Premise of the proposal
1. GoM plans to set up six new skill development universities in the state
2. GoM has planned to come up with the appropriate amendments in the existing
university act to set up new universities
3. Proposed universities will be the state universities (with/without affiliated college
options)
4. Universities will be set up – land, construction, other infrastructure – by the GoM in
consultation with SOES
5. Working capital will be brought by the GoM
Challenges in running Skill Universities
1. Risk of slipping into conventional mode of education HIGH
2. No norms differentiate skill development from conventional one yet
3. Execution and pedagogy in running a skill program are still evolving
4. Modular and flexible nature of skill university model is new in India
5. Hence parallel is almost non-existent
6. Skill education execution expertise with global outlook and research is scarce in
India
Advantage Symbiosis
1. Symbiosis Open Education Society has a legacy of world class education delivery of
five decades
2. SOES founder participated in drafting skill education policies, study skill university
models and policy making
3. First and only skill development universities in India are set up and successfully run
by SOES
4. Unmatched integration between skill education and higher education executed by
SOES
5. Experienced team to identify and develop – basic courses to degree programs
relevant to the region
6. Global connects with the industry and thought leaders
7. Proven education technology, community teaching and teacher development
expertise

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Our Offering
Market Study
 Research and identify regional demands and relevant skill based programs / courses
 Identify regional and industry needs
Legislative Framework Development
 Preparation of the Skill University Model Act
 Preparation of DPR and documents required for enactment
 Assistance in formation of University, enactment process
 Preparation of Statutes and Ordinances
Academics
 Development of programs and courses – curricula, duration, scope, target,
pedagogy, trainers / professors
 Development of assessment scheme relevant to skill programs / courses
 Development of learning material and resources
 Planning of University operations
 Development of guidelines for standardization of teaching learning process
 Development of guidelines for conducting research, professional practices and
projects by the skill university
Teacher Development
 Identify and hire teaching resources
 Train the trainers - train teachers on – skill course delivery, skill pedagogy,
technology use
 Capacity building – develop and train teachers and officers on skill development
model
Industry Liasoning
 Identify industry partners for lab set ups, equipment, program development /
placements
 Identify suppliers of specialized skill training equipment and machinery
 Identify partners for content development

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Technology
 Develop systems relevant to run the skill university
 Identify teaching - learning technology tools
 Development of ERP for skill university
 Development of ICT, IEC model for the skill university
University Operations and Monitoring
 Develop functions and departments with SOPs
 Hire and train staff to run operations – teaching and non-teaching
Proposed Activity Flow
Sr.
No.
Activity – broad area Approx
Time
1 Legislative framework development 2 Mo
2 Market survey, industry engagement, gap analysis and presentation of
outcome (target sectors)
2 Mo
3 Identification of programs and structure for every program proposed 3 Mo
4 Development of syllabus and identification of infrastructure /
equipment / IT infrastructure
3 Mo
5 System requirement study and business process analysis for
customization of information systems
2 Mo
6 Development / customization of information system, implementation of
systems and training
3 Mo
7 Identification of manpower resources, recruitment 6 Mo
8 Teacher development and training 3 Mo
9 Industry identification, and collaborations 6 Mo
10 Development of university departments, functions, SOPs, monitoring
policies and operations standards
6 Mo
Note: Many activities will be carried out parallel.

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Engagement Model
1. SOES will form a team comprising of –
◦ Project Leaders, Academic Experts, Industry Liasioning Officers, IT Experts, HR
Recruiters, OD Experts etc. – 30 number
◦ Team will also have subject matter experts and industry representatives for
shorter term for course syllabus and structure development
2. Activity flow with tentative time duration for the activity is as per Activity Flow. The
phase-wise deliverable and date of delivery will be submitted after the approval of
proposal in principle.
3. SOES will engage as Knowledge Partner for the period of up to 2 years.
Commercial
1. SOES will charge as below –
A. Option I – Engagement for ONE year with activities as mentioned above and
FIVE proposed programs – Rs. 7,06,20,000 (Rupees Seven Crore Six Lakh
Twenty Thousand Only)
B. Option II – Engagement for ADDITIONAL one year with five more programs –
Rs. 5,10,00,000 (Rupees Five Crore Ten Lakh Only)
Note: Proposed programs are full time three / four year degree programs including multiple
short-term certificate and diploma courses.
2. Taxes extra as applicable
Contact
Dr. Swati Mujumdar
Principal Director, SOES
director@scdl.net, 9823231100