In a significant development for India’s skill-building ecosystem, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and EHL Hospitality Business School, Switzerland, have launched the Vocational Education & Training (VET) by EHL Advanced Diploma under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). This initiative marks the first time a globally recognised Swiss hospitality programme has been integrated with the National Credit Framework (NCrF), allowing students to earn academic credits while undergoing industry-aligned training.
As part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CII and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to establish the CII–IGNOU Career Edge Academy. The academy will embed industry-relevant programmes within IGNOU’s academic structure and provide lateral entry opportunities for diploma holders.
The launch was attended by senior officials from NCVET, leading hotel chains, and academic institutions, all of whom praised the initiative as a crucial step towards shaping a globally competitive and future-ready hospitality workforce.
“This collaboration empowers youth with internationally benchmarked skills, recognised academic credits, and career pathways aligned to a rapidly evolving industry,” said Prof Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU.
“Embedding the VET by EHL program into India’s skills framework is a landmark step in developing consistent, high-quality pathways for young people nationwide,” added Prof Markus Venzin, CEO, EHL Group.
With 1,200 learners already trained, the CII–EHL–IGNOU partnership is expected to accelerate the growth of credit-based, global-standard vocational training in India.
