(1) On incorporation of the University by the State Government by way of notification under sub-section (1) of Section 3 the State Government shall identify a consortium of Industry Partners for collaboration, based on the following criteria:
(i) the investment of capital required for establishing the proposed University to be borne by the State Government and Industry Partners and recurring expenditure, as may be considered necessary during the first three years of operation, to be made available by the State Government;
Establishment of University by the State Government and Industry Partners.
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(ii) the expertise and standing of the Industry Partners proposed, in their respective sector;
(iii) the assessment of the capability, financial and other resources of industry partners to support the University;
(iv) the temporary campus of the University and Campuses for running the Skill Centers of the University, to be provided by the State Government free of cost;
(v) the suitability of adequate land, to the extent of hundred acres, for building the permanent Campus to be provided by the State Government free of cost;
(vi) the availability of, or the commitment of the State Government to make available, adequate physical infrastructure namely, water, electricity, road connectivity and security, at the proposed site.
(2) The State Government shall enter into a memorandum of understanding or an agreement with the industry partners for the establishment of the University.
(3) The industry partner shall:
(i) actively participate in the governance of the University and the schools within the overall framework;
(ii) support and facilitate various initiatives either through funding, collaboration or in any other manner;
(iii) depute experienced individuals as adjunct faculty;
(iv) co-create programs as per the requirements of the industry with the Institution;
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(v) provide internship and apprenticeship to students from the University;
(vi) facilitate for placement of students from the University.
(4) Every memorandum of understanding or agreement referred to in sub-section (2) shall contain:
(i) the investment proposal of capital in establishment of the University and the respective shares as may be prescribed;
(ii) the first Statutes of the University;
(iii) the commitment of the State Government, and the industry partner in operation and ensuring autonomy to the University;
(iv) the conditions, if the industry partners pulls out.
5. Save as otherwise provided by or under this Act, the limits of the area within which the Skill University shall exercise its powers, shall be that of the State of Telangana.
6. The objects of the University shall be-
(1) to establish as a premier institution of quality skill education recognized by industry & service sectors both nationally and internationally;
(2) to develop employable human resource by ensuring on-the-job-training during study for degree and diploma courses, leading to job placements for realizing the demographic dividend of the State and contribute to the manpower requirements of the industry and economy;
(3) to carry out training and education as per established skilling benchmarks, provide certification as per established Jurisdiction.
Objects of the University.
[Act No.13 of 2024] 7 frameworks and promote sustainable skilling with skill education as per established standards in training, teachers training and industry collaboration;
(4) to provide opportunities for flexible learning, systems and create a platform for life-long learning;
(5) to develop linkages with industry and service sectors and impart skill education aligned with market needs;
(6) to design and implement curricula in association with industry, service sector, Sector Skill Councils and industry & service sector bodies so that a dynamic evolving content is always on offer for students;
(7) to promote entrepreneurship development initiatives and to create an inspiring ecosystem for start-ups, business incubators micro enterprises and platforms for technology & manpower mobility;
(8) to ignite the spirit of innovation, creativity and experimentation;
(9) to create a platform for industry involvement in training, common production centres / facility, offer & implement models for spin off of startups;
(10) to maintain transparency of highest order in matters of admission, appointments, evaluation, accreditation, administration and finance at its main campus and different affiliated centers;
(11) to start or affiliate training centres and centers of excellence in different parts of Telangana based on merit, outreach and skilling standards;
(12) to publish books, journals, periodicals, reports, scholarly articles and film clips in such areas as prescribed;
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(13) to do all such things as are incidental, necessary or conducive at the national and international level to the attainment of all or any of the objects of the University and for its adaptation & growth in the emerging skilling, employment and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
7. The University shall have the following powers and perform the following functions, namely:
(1) to comply with the National Skills Qualification Framework & the credit framework applicable to all the skill courses both short term and long term;
(2) to have autonomy in financial, administrative and academic matters in regard to the attainment of its objects;
(3) to develop curriculum framework in accordance with the National Occupational Standards developed as job-role based course offerings by such bodies as may be specified, by or under, the National Skills Qualification Framework and framework applicable to different sectoral courses;
(4) to define norms and parameters of skills education, teaching and instruction, consistent with the credit framework and curriculum packages, in such skills and allied areas as the University may deem fit;
(5) to impart instruction in accordance with the National Skill Qualification Framework, Industry set standards, credit framework and industry-led curriculum packages, in such skills and allied areas, as the University may deem fit, for the dissemination of knowledge and skills training in accordance with requirements of industry and consistent with its objects;
(6) to impart instruction in such branches of learning, other than skills, consistent with its objects, as the University may, from time to time, determine;
Powers and functions of the University.
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(7) to award degrees, diplomas, certificates and other distinctions that conform to the provisions of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or the National Skills Qualification Framework, as the case may be;
(8) to define norms of examination or any other measure of assessment of knowledge and competency of a student or for admission to the University;
(9) to conduct examinations or other assessments of knowledge or competency, or accredit the examination or other assessment systems of institutions of skill education, as the University may, from time to time, determine.
(10) to recognize industries for purposes of practical training of students in skills and to define norms for recognition of competency attained by a student in such practical training in industry for the purpose of earning credits;
(11) to define norms and measures of assessment for recognition of prior learning and competency in skills, based on relevant experience at work or in industry, and to assign credits for such prior learning or competency in accordance with the credit framework;
(12) to lay down norms for transfer of credits to promote new learning opportunities without compromising on learning outcomes;
(13) to institute education in skills education, training or other training positions required by the University, with such qualifications and designations as it may deem fit, and to appoint persons on contract, term or otherwise to such positions;
(14) to appoint persons working or having significant experience or working in any other educational institution or industry/service sectors, possessing the required knowledge 10 [Act No.13 of 2024] or competency or recognized experts in skill education as adjunct, guest or visiting faculty of the University on such terms and for such duration as the University may decide;
(15) to lay down parameters for assessment and accreditation of skill courses, skill educators and training providers in accordance with the norms specified by or under the National Skills qualification Framework, or in their absence, such norms as may be determined by the University;
(16) to create administrative and other posts and to make appointments thereto;
(17) to determine, specify and receive payment of fees, revenue shares and other charges, as the University may deem fit, from students and any other person, institution, industry or body corporate for instructions and other services, including training, consultancy and advisory services, provided by the University;
(18) to establish and maintain such infrastructure, including campuses and training centres within its territorial jurisdictions, as may be necessary for attainment of its objects;
(19) to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, such studies for assessment of courses, skill needs as may be required in the future and to prepare and maintain a database of skill courses of skills assessment and requirements in terms of the emerging employment market in Telangana, nationally or internationally, as the case may be, relevant to the instructions imparted or proposed to be imparted in the University;
(20) to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, exhibitions, prizes and medals;
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(21) to collaborate with any other university or institution both nationally and internationally in offering joint degree programmes for forging education partnerships in skill education and skill integrated higher education;
(22) to partner with institutions, organisations and industry/service sectors for creating and operating centres of excellence, running niche programmes and forge partnerships for end-to-end implementation of courses by industry/industry bodies/sector skill councils in accordance with established models;
(23) to operate programmes and activities in Public- Private Partnership mode & sponsorship mode as per established practices so as to leverage both funding and best practices;
(24) to promote international collaboration in skills education with institutions of vocational education (VET Universities) for the purpose of developing competency, knowledge and competence of global standards so as to promote student employment and mobility;
(25) to collaborate with the existing innovation eco-system and Centers of Excellence of the Government of Telangana for building synergies and affiliation wherever possible;
(26) to promote a spirit of entrepreneurship amongst skilled youth;
(27) to establish, maintain & partner with institutions, centres, campuses and such other centres of education, research, training and extension as deemed appropriate by the University;
(28) to determine the mode, eligibility and standards for admissions to the University;
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(29) to establish, maintain and manage halls, hostels, residences etc for the residing of staff, students and scholars;
(30) to prescribe, regulate and enforce the discipline and conduct of students at the University and to make arrangements for promoting their health, welfare and cultural and corporate life;
(31) to regulate the work and conduct of employees of the University and take such disciplinary measures in this regard as may deem necessary;
(32) to make arrangements for promoting the health and general welfare of employees of the University;
(33) to create any Reserve Fund, Insurance Fund or any other special Fund whether for depreciation or for repairing, improving, extending or maintaining any of the properties or rights of the University and/or for recoupment of wasting assets and for any other purposes for which the University deems it expedient or proper to create or maintain such Funds;
(34) to draw, make, accept, endorse and discount cheques, notes or other negotiable instruments and digital payments;
(35) to receive benefactions, donations and gifts from persons and organizations and to name, after them, such chairs, centers, institutions, buildings and the like as the University may determine, whose gift or donation to the University is worth such amount as the University may decide;
(36) to acquire by gift, purchase, exchange, lease, hire or otherwise howsoever any movable or immovable property which may be necessary or convenient for the purpose of the University and to build, construct, improve, alter, [Act No.13 of 2024] 13 demolish, repair and maintain such buildings, works and constructions as may be necessary for carrying out the objects of the University;
(37) to borrow and leverage funds for the purpose of the University;
(38) to assess the needs in terms of skill sectors, fields of specialization, levels of skilling and training of technical and other manpower, both on short and long-term basis, and to initiate necessary programmes to meet those needs;
(39) to initiate measures to enlist the involvement and cooperation of the industry and other expert agencies to provide complementary facilities and to operate any programmes as per established practices;
(40) to prescribe code of ethics, code of conduct and disciplinary rules for its employees and Code of Discipline for the students. However, the disciplinary rules for the employees should be on the line of conduct rules and disciplinary rules applicable to employees of Government, and
(41) to do all such things as may be necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the objects of the Skills University.
8. No person shall be excluded from holding any office in the University or from membership of any of the authorities of the University or from admission to any degree, diploma or other distinction or course of study, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, and it shall not adopt or impose on any person any test whatsoever of religious belief or profession in order to entitle him to be admitted thereto as a teacher or student or to hold any office therein or to qualify for any degree, diploma or other distinction or to enjoy or exercise any of the privileges of the University:
University open to all classes, castes and creed.
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Provided that –
(1) The University may maintain affiliate or recognise any college or institution, intended exclusively for women, either for their education, or for their residence.
(2) The University shall reserve seats in the University Colleges or constituent Centres for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other categories as specified by the Government from time to time as per the Rules of Reservation.