Medhavi Skills University Becomes the First Private University to Embed Board of Apprenticeship Training (BoAT)-Approved Apprenticeships Across All Undergraduate and Diploma Programs

(Pune, July 25, 2025) In a significant milestone towards Viksit Bharat 2047 India’s skill-based higher education landscape, Medhavi Skills University (MSU) has signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Board of Apprenticeship Training – Western Region (BoAT-WR), Mumbai, an autonomous body under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. The MoU was signed during the recently concluded Medhavi Skills & Staffing Leadership Conclave 2025, held at Hyatt, Pune.
This strategic collaboration makes MSU the first private university in India to enter into such a partnership with BoAT-WR. The agreement weaves the final-year industrial stint that MSU students already undertake into a paid, government-recognised apprenticeship, allowing learners from engineering, hospitality, digital services and emerging skilling domains to earn stipends, accumulate workplace experience and simultaneously collect university credits, which can be uploaded to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). By fusing NATS with its industry-led curriculum, MSU operationalises the National Education Policy 2020’s call for integrating vocational and academic pathways, opening a direct route for young Indians from marginalised backgrounds to secure dignified careers.
This framework aligns with the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) model as recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and aims to institutionalize apprenticeship as a core component of higher education delivery and strengthen India’s talent pipeline for the future.
The MoU was exchanged in the august presence of Shri. N. N. Wadode, Deputy Director of Training, BoAT (Western Region), Mumbai, Ministry of Education, Government of India. Mr. Pravesh Dudani, Founder & Chancellor, MSU and Shri P. N. Jumle, Director, BoAT (Western Region), Mumbai were the signatories for their respective organizations for this prestigious MoU.
“This is a watershed moment for industry-aligned higher education,” declared Mr. Pravesh Dudani, Founder-Chancellor of MSU. “Our students will now earn, learn and bank credits in one seamless track that the nation’s employers trust.” Echoing the sentiment, Mr Kuldip Sarma, Co-Founder & Pro-Chancellor, said the pact “squarely serves the 95 per cent of Indian youth who possess talent yet lack access to work-integrated degrees, turning every classroom into a launch pad for Skill India.” Shri P. N. Jumle, Director, BoAT-WR, called the model “a template other universities can emulate to mainstream apprenticeships and turbo-charge our skilled-manpower mission.”
The collaboration arrives at a time when India’s formal apprenticeship penetration remains under 0.1 per cent of the labour force, far below the 3 – 4 % seen in advanced economies and when the Central Apprenticeship Council has just recommended a 36 % stipend hike, pegging future revisions to inflation . Over 43.47 lakh apprentices have been engaged nationwide under PM-NAPS and NATS, supported by over 51,000 establishments . MSU’s credit-linked model seeks to amplify these gains, moving India closer to the NEP 2020 target of at least half of all learners receiving meaningful vocational exposure during higher studies.
Further boosting the dialogue between academia, industry, and policy makers, the Medhavi Skills & Staffing Leadership Conclave provided an ideal setting for the signing of this strategic MoU. The conclave themed “Reimagining Industry-Led Higher Education” featured 300 policymakers, CEOs and skilling experts who deliberated on aligning academic outcomes with industry needs, scaling work-integrated learning models, and moving beyond transactional hiring to co-create future-ready talent ecosystems.
About Medhavi Group:
Medhavi Group is a pioneering organization dedicated to skill development, industry-integrated education, and nation-building. Through Medhavi Foundation and Medhavi Skills University (MSU), the group has transformed over 5.5 lakh lives across India. Medhavi Foundation, a not-for- profit organization and a National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) partner, operates 300+ training centers, including 10+ Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK). It is empanelled with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as a Third-Party Aggregator (TPA) under NAPS and collaborates with industry leaders like TCS, Emami, and Honda for CSR-driven skill programs. Medhavi Skills University (MSU), Sikkim, is established under the 2021 Medhavi Skills University Act. It is the 1st university in India to integrate NEP 2020 in an industry led format. MSU is also the youngest skills university to win medals at India Skills 2024, representing Sikkim on a national stage and preparing students for the World Skills Contest in France. Recognized by Economic Times as the Best Brand in Education, MSU is one of two universities approved by the Directorate General of Training (DGT) to offer Work Integrated ITI (CTS) programs under the Flexi MoU Scheme. Among 1,200 Indian universities, MSU is one of four recognized “Awarding Body” by NCVET. To know more, kindly visit: https://www.msu.edu.in/