The Commonwealth of Learning – Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA) and Uttarakhand Open University (UOU), Haldwani, organised a three-day workshop from 2-4 February 2026, on “Graduate Employability and Result-Based Management (RBM) Framework.” The workshop aimed to design skill-based courses that enhance employability and integrate skills into UOU’s academic programmes.

Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, emphasised the strength of the Graduate Employability Project, which focuses on skilling, reskilling, and upskilling learners. He emphasised that UOU’s strength lies in addressing the state’s unique economic industrial hubs in plains and micro-enterprises in hills. He addressed the issue of migration in the state and outlined that UOU can make a difference by reimagining academic delivery with competency-based learning, partnering with sector skill councils and agricultural universities, leveraging flexible education models and recognition of prior learning and focusing on digital literacy, employability skills, and industry exposure.

Prof. Rajesh P. Khambayat, Consultant, COL-CEMCA, and the expert trainer, noted a growing demand for employability-focused education, highlighting the need for practical skills, workplace competencies, and modular curricula. He highlighted that the workshop would enable participants to revise existing curricula or develop new course outlines for implementation in UOU’s academic programmes.

Prof. Naveen Chandra Lohani, Vice-Chancellor, UOU, presided over the programme and highlighted that the workshop will equip faculty members with practical insights into outcomes-based education, employability attributes, and industry-driven curriculum development. He emphasised the focus on designing modular, flexible, and skill-oriented courses aligned with national frameworks like NCrF and NSQF, strengthening UOU’s mission of providing quality, employment-focused education through ODL mode.

Prof. Rajesh P. Khambayat led an in-depth discussion on designing employment-oriented courses, covering objectives, learning outcomes, skills, and models. He addressed participant queries, emphasising how universities can craft courses that equip students with employability skills for jobs and entrepreneurship, alongside their degrees.

Dr. B. Shadrach, in his valedictory speech, emphasised shifting the focus from a degree-centric model to a competency based one, defining learning outcomes, and scaffolding skills across levels. He urged participants to innovate, diversify assessments, and integrate work-based learning.