FARIDABAD NEWS 06 JUNE 2025 : GAUTAM :  Haryana Education Minister Shri Mahipal Dhanda emphasized that Higher Educational Institutions in the State must integrate internships as a mandatory part of their curriculum, ensuring no compromise on students’ Internship Training post-course completion. 
He was addressing a one-day workshop on ‘Internship Opportunities’ organized by the Haryana State Higher Education Council (HSHEC) at J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad, to foster collaboration and dialogue on enhancing internship opportunities for students.
The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Shri Raj Nehru, OSD to the Chief Minister of Haryana, Prof. Kailash Chandra Sharma, Chairman of HSHEC, Prof. S.K. Gakhar, Vice-Chairman of HSHEC, Prof. Sushil Kumar Tomar, Vice-Chancellor of J.C. Bose University, Dr. D.P. Bhardwaj, President, Haryana Vidya Bharti, Vice-Chancellors of Haryana’s State Universities, Deans (Academic Affairs), Training and Placement Officers, and Directors/Principals of Affiliated Colleges.
During the workshop, Shri Dhanda announced that the designation of ‘Vice-Chancellor’ in Haryana’s universities will be changed to ‘Kulaguru’ in line with Indian traditions. He stated that necessary amendments to the University Act would be introduced to formalize this change, a proposal initiated by Shri Sunil Sharma, All India General Secretary of Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal.
Highlighting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s focus on practical education, the Minister expressed pleasure in Haryana being the first state to implement NEP 2020. He urged educators to implement the policy in its true spirit to maximize its benefits, ensuring students are equipped to face global challenges. He further noted that internships are being simplified in Haryana, allowing students to pursue them in industries or even rural settings, while emphasizing the need to prevent fraudulent internship certificates.
Shri Raj Nehru, also the founding Vice-Chancellor of Shri Vishwakarma Skill University and a member of various UGC committees on NEP implementation and vocational courses, stressed the need for industry-academia collaboration. He advocated for mandatory internships not only for students but also for teachers to bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical skills demanded by today’s youth.
Earlier, Prof. Kailash Chandra Sharma introduced the workshop’s objectives, noting that it is the third in a series of workshops organized under the Minister’s guidance to implement NEP 2020 effectively. He urged institutions to raise awareness about the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, which offers a 12-month paid internship.
In his welcome address, Prof. Sushil Kumar Tomar highlighted J.C. Bose University’s legacy since its inception in 1969 under the Indo-German Project, emphasizing its commitment to innovation, excellence, and industry-oriented education. He shared that in the academic year 2024-25, the university secured placements for 565 students and internships for 1,008 students in reputed companies, compared to 634 placements and 974 internships in 2023-24. The university has made internship training mandatory to ensure students gain practical experience and industry readiness.
The workshop featured discussions on ‘National Skill Development and Youth Internship Policies,’ ‘Government-Industry-Academia Collaboration,’ and ‘Addressing Challenges in Internship Implementation: From Policy to Practice.’ A separate session addressed credit equivalence under the UGC’s National Credit Framework (NCRF) and curriculum frameworks for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The workshop resolved that all Universities in Haryana will introduce Apprenticeship Integrated Degree Programs (AIDP), with 50% of the program duration dedicated to apprenticeships in collaboration with institutions, facilitated through agreements with the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) or the Institute of Apprenticeship. Kurukshetra University will launch AIDP this year in programs such as BCA, B.Com (Professional), B.Sc (Event Management), and B.Sc (Medical Lab Technology).
Other attendees included Vice-Chancellors Prof. Dinesh Kumar, Prof. Somnath Sachdeva, Prof. P.K. Sharma, Prof. Aseem Miglani, Dr. Manjula Chaudhary, Faridabad Municipal Corporation Mayor Smt. Praveen Joshi, Registrar of JC Bose University Prof. Ajay Ranga, other dignitaries and district administration officials.