India's Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal has launched the National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF), which will be implemented into the university system from 2012-13. According to a recent article, the programmes are sector-specific, focusing on IT, polytechnics, engineering, media, entertainment, telecommunications, mobile communications, automobile, construction, retail, food processing, tourism, hotels, jewellery and fashion design. The scheme envisages seven certificate levels with approximately 1000 hours in each level. A student can combine competency-based skill learning along with general education, thereby providing a full multi-entry system between vocational education, general education and the job market. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) would seek to provide the requisite statutory approvals to any institutions wishing to conduct these programmes from the academic year 2012. Institutions can choose a maximum of 500 students per institute in any five sectors, 100 students per sector. This is expected to cater to at least five million students for vocational degrees and diplomas every year, which can provide much-needed employment in India. The education ministry says the framework will help double gross enrollment from the current 15 to 30 percent. Source: