A Guide On National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) | Levels of NSQF

There are thousands & lakhs of students that graduate every year in India. But have you wondered why most youngsters are unemployed?

Is it a lack of opportunities?

No, the biggest reason is – Lack of “skilled” professionals!

To address the serious issue, the Government of India took initiative in the year 2013 and introduced National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF) which was renamed afterward as – “National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)”.

• Scheme of Community Colleges
• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Centres for Knowledge Acquisition
• Upgradation of Skilled Human Abilities and Livelihood (KAUSHAL)

All three schemes by GOI are included in the National Skills Qualification Framework with an aim to provide skills to learners and become a “superpower” in the upcoming years.

Levels of NSQF are given as a statement of learning outcomes in various domains such as

• Required process
• Professional knowledge
• Professional Skills
• Core Skills
• Responsibility

Key Elements of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF):

• Skill proficiency promotion to create individuals with international equivalency
• Multiple entries and exit provisions to students
• Opportunities to help students become lifelong learner
• Preparedness for the industry-standard with development of skills
• A transparent mechanism for growth of students

Objectives of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)

The major objectives of the NSQF include offering the given provisions to create & ensure a quality assurance framework –

#1: Diversity of Indian Education System

The NSQF wants to ensure that the diversity of the present Indian education system is accommodated within the skill-based framework. It pays attention to developing a unique qualification for various levels and defining the expected student learning outcomes.

#2: Development Structure & Roadmap

NSQF aims to provide an organized structure for the development & maintenance of a roadmap that would help learners. Primarily, it takes care of offering academic knowledge along with the industrial–practical knowledge that would develop & polish students’ skills. For various job roles & levels, NSQF has formulated the following parameters for industry-specific skill development.

• Qualification Packs (QPs)
• National Occupational Standards (NOS)

#3: Industrial Training & Experiences

Any learner can’t understand the core of industrial practices without actual training in the different industries. Therefore, NSQF includes industrial training in education itself to simplify the doubts of students. They get hands-on industry experience prior to their course completion and gain real-time knowledge.

#4: International Platform

The NSQF supports high-quality learning and enables the students to get exposure to national & international opportunities. Thus, it amplifies the significance of education, and geographical boundaries no longer remain a barrier.

#5: Skillset for Life

NSQF believes in inculcating skills not just for professional benefits but for a lifetime! Thus, they focus on delivering the highest form of skill-based education for enabling students to develop a sharp mindset that would help them survive in any critical situation throughout their life.

10 Levels of National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)

The NSQF levels range from one to ten are categorized by learning outcomes that learners must acquire through their formal, informal, or non-formal acquisition.

#Level 1 National Skill Qualification Framework

The first level of NSQF aims to prepare learners to automatically sink in the repetitive tasks and save their precious time every single time they need to perform them. They need not require any prior practice.

#Level 2 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 2 National Skill Qualification Framework aims to prepare learners to carry out repetitive tasks with the application of understanding. It would help them understand & perform the task, thus promoting logical thinking.

#Level 3 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 3 National Skill Qualification Framework aims to prepare learners to carry out a specific job role or task that doesn’t require much effort and is predictable in nature.

#Level 4 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 4 National Skill Qualification Framework aims to prepare learners to work in a familiar environment where the nature of the job is not new, quite familiar, and can be performed on a routine basis.

#Level 5 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 5 National Skill Qualification Framework aims to prepare learners to become skillful and take a job of their choice and work in a familiar environment.

#Level 6 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 6 National Skill Qualification Framework demands a variety of skillset especially technical skills, the learner must be well-equipped with knowledge & carry out standard & non-standard practices as per the requirement of the job.

#Level 7 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 7 National Skill Qualification Framework requires a skilled person that has a theoretical as well as practical skill-set and is efficient enough to do routine & well as any non-routine job. One needs to have multi-tasking skills!

#Level 8 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 8 National Skill Qualification Framework needs an individual that has got comprehensive, theoretical, practical, as well as cognitive skills. One must be good at communication and needs to conduct tasks independently.

#Level 9 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 9 National Skill Qualification Framework is quite advanced in terms of knowledge & skills expectations. It prepares a learner to have a critical understanding of any subject and develop innovative thinking.

#Level 10 National Skill Qualification Framework

Level 10 National Skill Qualification Framework requires specialization in everything in terms of –knowledge, problem-solving, and ability to offer an original contribution.

Top Benefits of National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)

The various levels of the NSQF allow the development of a wide range of skills that can help the students as well as institutions in the long run. The following list depicts the top benefits of implementing NSQF.

• International equivalency could be achieved
• Identification& enhancement of skill proficiency
• Skill training with multiple entry & exit
• Vocational education to increase employment ratio
• Progressive educational system creation
• Encourages lifelong training and quality education
• Tie-ups with the companies for better understanding of market demands

How NSQF Implementation Can Help Educational Institutions?

It’s a well-known fact that educational institutions charge a large amount of money to students for educational facilities. However, the students are not able to meet the professional requirements and don’t get placed even after studying hard for so many years. The NSQF framework can help students get placed in a good company and get paid well.

NSQF can simplify the tasks of faculty by incorporating industrial training in the syllabus. Institutions can expect the following outcomes with the implementation of NSQF.

1. Provision of mobility between traditional education & vocational education approach
2. Recognition of potential skills in students
3. Job market-based training – NOS & QPs
4. Internationally recognized standard process

Institutions Eligible for NSQF Implementation

Educational institutions seeking NSQF implementation must meet the eligibility criteria-

• The college /university must be AICTE approved
• The AICTE approval must be relevant to the specific areas of expected vocational educational courses
• Specializations generally include- automobile servicing, production technology, software development, printing & packaging, and much more

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