Though school VET is well articulated and also that the National Skill Qualifications Framework, and National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015 are in place, there was a felt need to address the three areas of concern in higher education: i) vertical mobility within VET; ii) horizontal mobility between VET and HE; and iii) skilling for general higher education. COL/CEMCA took up the responsibility of reviewing the international good practices and develop further articulation and guidelines to operationalise the third area of concern, i.e. skilling and employability in undergraduate education.

This write-up addresses the global meanings ascribed to skills and competencies; summarises the 21st century skills; reviews select international skill qualification frameworks for school education, VET and higher education; critically looks into the practice of VET and HE in three European countries of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland; discusses the Indian National Skill Qualifications Framework vis-à-vis the skilling system/practices in India (including those for higher education); and outlines guidelines for operationalising linage of skill programmes with higher education (UG) programmes in India.