The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) has partnered with Bharatiya Shiksha Board (BSB) to integrate industry-aligned vocational education into schools. The collaboration will support quality assurance, trainer certification, assessments, and industry exposure, creating structured pathways for students from Classes IX to XII towards employment and entrepreneurship.
The MoU was exchanged at the Bharatiya Shiksha Board headquarters in New Delhi on 1 August 2026 in the presence of Swami Ramdev, Founder Chairman, Bharatiya Shiksha Board; Dr N. P. Singh, Executive Chairman, Bharatiya Shiksha Board; R.P. Singh, Secretary, Bharatiya Shiksha Board; and senior representatives from participating Sector Skill Councils.
Under the partnership, THSC will serve as the Quality Assurance, Affiliation, Assessment and Certification Partner for vocational education programmes under BSB.
Its responsibilities will include supporting school affiliations, developing quality assurance mechanisms, conducting Training of Trainers (ToT), certifying vocational trainers, facilitating NSQF-compliant assessments, issuing joint skill certifications, and strengthening industry linkages for experiential learning.
Focus on industry exposure
The partnership is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and BSB’s objective of integrating NSQF-aligned vocational education into mainstream schooling.
The programmes will cover Classes IX to XII and include industry-recognised courses, standardised assessments, internships, experiential learning, and entrepreneurial opportunities. The initiative aims to connect classroom learning with workplace requirements and expand access to skill-based education for students across urban and rural India.
Swami Ramdev, Founder Chairman, Bharatiya Shiksha Board, said: “This is the first time in the country that the organisation sponsoring a national education board is itself establishing such a strong academic-industry partnership. Through this collaborative model, Bharatiya Shiksha Board aims not only to build a skilled workforce but also to provide India’s youth with genuine entrepreneurial opportunities. Students will benefit from industry exposure, internships, hands-on training, and structured pathways to employment and self-employment across sectors including tourism and hospitality, IT, green jobs, handicrafts, and wellness.”
THSC to support implementation
Rajan Bahadur, CEO, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council, said: “This partnership represents a transformative step towards building a future-ready education ecosystem where academic learning is seamlessly integrated with practical skills and industry exposure. By introducing tourism and hospitality education at the school level, we are equipping young learners with employability skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, and career pathways that will empower them to contribute meaningfully to India’s growing service economy.”
Bahadur added: “THSC is proud to partner with Bharatiya Shiksha Board in implementing a robust vocational education framework aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. With our extensive experience of working with 23 State School Boards and conducting over 80,000 student skill assessments annually, we have developed strong systems for quality assurance, standardised assessment, certification, and industry engagement. We are confident that this partnership will create a scalable model for delivering quality vocational education that prepares students not only for employment but also for lifelong learning and entrepreneurship.”
The collaboration is intended to provide students with academic learning alongside industry-recognised skill certification, supporting transitions from school to higher education, apprenticeships, employment, or entrepreneurship. The initiative also contributes to the broader objective of developing a skilled, self-reliant, and globally competitive workforce under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.