Tamil Nadu Education: The "'One Degree, Six Skills’ programme", formerly named as ‘One Skill Per Semester’ programme under the banner of Naan Mudhalvan, is a skill development programme initiated by the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department and the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE). The plan for its execution will begin in the January 2027 even semester. This programme aims to change the system of undergraduate education in 181 government arts and science colleges involving more than 1.3 lakhs of students. As per the new programme, students have to undergo one industry-specific skill course that includes 30 to 45 hours of work in every semester, which means they learn six skills throughout their three-year degree programme.
In order to keep up with the present-day needs of the employment market, the state government has come out with a wide range of 20 skill courses ranging from basic sciences to liberal arts. In a departure from the conventional academic assessment system, evaluation in the new programme will be done based on continuous practical performance tests without written exams- 40% in practical performance, 30% individual core competency tests, and 30% final demonstrable projects.
Key Highlights of the Scheme
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Scope & Reach: Targeted towards undergraduate students of the 181 Government Arts and Science colleges in Tamil Nadu, with coverage for nearly 1.30 lakh UG seats sanctioned in these colleges.
Concept: The students get enrolled in one skills course (30-45 hours) oriented towards industries along with their normal course during each semester. During the duration of the 3-year undergraduate course, they learn 6 skills for jobs.
Skills Courses: The Higher Education Department has selected 20 skills courses, which span both basic sciences and arts, from which the colleges choose the courses.
Absence of Written Exams: All assessments are strictly practical in nature and not conventional written examinations.
40% -Practical skill activities
30% -Core individual competency
30% -Final project/outcome
Industry Collaboration: All involved institutions have to sign Memorandums of Understanding with at least three top industry players to aid curriculum development, internships, and job placements.
Timeline for Implementation: Expected implementation is set to commence from the even semester of January 2027.
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