The Context Behind the Change

India’s higher education system is increasingly embracing apprenticeship-embedded degrees as a solution to the persistent gap between academic learning and workplace readiness. Unlike traditional programmes where internships are optional, these degrees integrate structured, supervised work experience as a formal, credit-bearing requirement, enabling students to gain real-world experience and financial benefits through stipends while they learn. This shift aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises flexible, multidisciplinary education that blends classroom theory with practical skills. Apprenticeship-embedded degrees formally recognise the value of hands-on industry engagement, equipping learners with job-relevant competencies and greater employability prospects. Policymakers are updating legislation, including the Apprentices Act, to broaden eligibility for graduate and technical apprenticeships and ensure minimum stipend protections. However, realising the full potential of this model requires focus on quality, scalability, employer participation, and equitable student protections. If implemented at scale, apprenticeship-embedded degrees could significantly transform India’s workforce readiness and bridge the longstanding academic–industry divide.

The Impact Matrix

• Signals a critical shift from theoretical degrees to practice-oriented education, prioritising real work experience over classroom only learning.

  
  

• Helps bridge the persistent employability gap by embedding industry work and supervised on-the-job training into degree credits.

  
  

• Aligns with NEP 2020’s mandate for flexible, multidisciplinary and outcome-driven learning pathways.

• Encourages closer collaboration between universities and industry partners to co-design curricula and assessment frameworks.

  
  

• Mandates legislative and regulatory adaptation — including updates to apprenticeship laws — to support graduate and professional apprenticeships.

  
  

• Could reduce skill mismatch in key sectors like manufacturing, technology, healthcare and services, improving workforce readiness.

  
  

• Raises systemic challenges including ensuring fair stipends, workplace safety, quality supervision, and access for smaller employers, which must be addressed for scalability.

  
  

Through the Studium Lens

At Studium, we see apprenticeship-embedded degrees as a pivotal evolution in Indian higher education — one that demands rigorous systems for quality assurance, measurable outcomes, and institutional readiness. As universities blend academic theory with workplace experience, it becomes essential to track and demonstrate learning outcomes, industry engagement results, and student progression metrics.

Studium’s AI-driven quality and accreditation management platform helps institutions centralise data workflows, automate evidence collection, and present outcome-based insights that align with evolving regulatory expectations. Our platform supports universities to monitor apprenticeship integration success, provide transparent documentation for quality frameworks like NAAC, NBA and NIRF, and identify areas for improvement using predictive analytics. By enabling institutions to systematically manage competency data, workplace assessments, and accreditation evidence, Studium ensures that apprenticeship-embedded programmes not only enhance employability but also meet quality benchmarks. In this transition toward practice-based learning, Studium empowers institutions to deliver impactful, accountable, and industry-aligned education at scale.

CEO’s Pull Quote

“Embedding apprenticeships into degree programmes is not just an education upgrade — it’s a structural reform for employability. At Studium, we equip institutions with the systems and insights they need to demonstrate real learning outcomes, ensuring graduates are ready for the demands of today’s workforce.”