In a significant move to address youth unemployment in India, Medhavi Skills University (MSU) has partnered with Orane International, a training partner of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), to launch UGC-recognised Bachelor of Vocation (BVoc) courses in Cosmetology and Makeup Artistry. The announcement was made following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 24, marking a strategic industry-academia collaboration aimed at bridging the skills gap in the growing beauty and wellness sector.
The beauty and wellness industry has emerged as a promising sector, particularly for employment opportunities in tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, with projections estimating the market will reach ₹5 lakh crore by 2030. Despite its rapid expansion, the sector has traditionally operated in an unorganised manner, with many professionals lacking formal qualifications. This partnership seeks to address this issue by providing skill-rich, sector-specific degree, diploma, and certification programmes designed to enhance employability.
Most professionals in the beauty and wellness industry have had to rely on short-term skill-based courses or seek qualifications abroad, often resulting in a significant gap in formal education. This collaboration between MSU and Orane aims to fill this void by offering industry-aligned educational qualifications that empower professionals, particularly women, who constitute 70% of the workforce in this sector.
The programmes will incorporate the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework, as mandated under the National Credit Framework (NCrF) notified by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This framework will allow work-experienced professionals to earn credits and gain lateral entry into the third year of the course, facilitating a pathway to formal education and career advancement.
Dinesh Sood, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Orane International, stated, “The collaboration between Orane and MSU aims to offer a series of industry-immersive degree courses designed as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to foster employable skills. Up to 70% of the curriculum will focus on integrating theoretical education with practical training and will be delivered at Orane’s state-of-the-art training centres across over 120 locations in India. This tie-up will address the longstanding issue of unstructured employment plaguing the beauty and wellness sector”.
Pravesh Dudani, Founder and Chancellor of Medhavi Skills University, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, saying, “This initiative marks a significant leap in formalising the unorganised beauty and wellness sector, offering students a clear path to higher education. By aligning with NEP 2020, our programmes blend theoretical knowledge with practical skills, placing 70% emphasis on real-world application. The flexibility in entry and exit points, as outlined in the NEP, ensures that learners from diverse backgrounds can benefit. This industry-immersive approach, with Orane’s 120 training centres, will address unorganised employment and raise professional standards across the sector”.
As the partnership unfolds, it is expected to enhance the employability of graduates in the beauty and wellness industry, ultimately contributing to the economic growth of the region while equipping professionals with the credentials necessary for career advancement. This initiative highlights the commitment of both Medhavi Skills University and Orane International to fostering a skilled workforce that meets the demands of this dynamic sector, paving the way for a sustainable future in beauty and wellness.
