A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ladakh Skill Development Mission (LSDM), the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) Leh, and the University of Ladakh (UoL) on June 19 to introduce skill and vocational courses, upgrade laboratory infrastructure, and implement Skill Development Programmes in Government Degree Colleges of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The primary focus of this partnership is to introduce skill courses in the colleges of UT Ladakh under the National Education Policy Framework, in collaboration with NIELIT and UoL. The main objective of onboarding NIELIT as technical/knowledge partners is to ensure that NSQF-aligned curricula for different job roles are delivered in the colleges. These curriculums will be modular in nature, with students receiving modular certificates upon the successful completion of each semester module. Upon completion of a complete job role training hours, students will be assessed by NIELIT HQ through a proctored mode and awarded NSQF-aligned STT certificates.

The skill courses will also be included in the credit-based system of the University of Ladakh as part of the students' degree courses. The MoU was signed by the Commissioner/Secretary Technical Education & Skill Development Department UT Ladakh, Padma Angmo; Director NIELIT Leh, Phuntsog Toldan; and Dean Academic Affairs UoL, Dr. Sonam Joldan, in the presence of Under Secretary Technical Education & Skill Development, Rigzin Yangdol, and Abied Hussain, Superintendent ITI.

Under this initiative, LSDM, NIELIT, and UoL aim to enhance the employability of Ladakh's youth by providing training in market-relevant skills, with an emphasis on employability and entrepreneurship. Commissioner/Secretary Padma Angmo stated, "This initiative will further accelerate the various efforts undertaken by LSDM to create an empowered workforce by providing adequate training in market-relevant skills."

She also noted that similar skill courses have been in progress in various degree colleges since August 2023, in collaboration with various Sector Skill Councils.