Uttarakhand Open University Becomes First State OU to Attain Dual Status Under NCVET

In a landmark development, Uttarakhand Open University (UOU) has become the first State Open University in India to be granted dual status as both an awarding and assessment body under the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). This significant milestone is the result of a strategic initiative spearheaded by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), aimed at integrating vocational education throughout the open and distance learning (ODL) ecosystem.

Dr B. Shadrach, Director of COL-CEMCA, remarked, "It all began in April 2024 when I approached the then Chairperson of NCVET to consider recognising all state OUs, too, as awarding bodies of NCVET with dual status, enabling them to cater to the unreached."  Dr Shadrach, who orchestrated several meetings and interfaces between the OUs and NCVET to realise this vision, asserted, "I was very clear that if upskilling is to truly reach the masses, especially the marginalised, it can only be achieved through Open Universities, as they possess the infrastructure to reach those currently underserved." This ambition was discussed at the OU VCs Roundtable in April 2024, followed by a pivotal meeting organised by COL-CEMCA at Kaushal Bhavan, which brought together OU leadership and NCVET leadership. These concerted efforts culminated in NCVET appointing a dedicated consultant to support each of the 17 State OUs.

This year-long endeavour that included several training programmes organised by COL-CEMCA for the OUs culminated in a significant achievement: a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between NCVET and UOU on 22nd July 2025 in New Delhi, witnessed by Shri Rajit Punhani, Chairperson, NCVET.  This is the first among the 17 OUs in the nation. Many other MOUs are likely to follow suite.

"This dual recognition empowers UOU not only to offer academic programmes but also to design, deliver, and certify vocational skill courses in alignment with NCVET standards," Professor Negi stated, welcoming the development. "I sincerely thank NCVET for this invaluable opportunity and extend my profound gratitude to COL-CEMCA for facilitating this process and guiding all stakeholders throughout this journey."

This milestone sets a powerful precedent for other State Open Universities, paving the way for an inclusive, skills-integrated higher education model that is responsive to the evolving demands of the workforce and regional development priorities.