Nagpur University begins BBA retail apprenticeship

Nagpur: The Nagpur University has launched a new Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) for affiliated colleges from this academic year. Under this programme, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students will get a fifth specialisation option in retail operation management (ROM).
The students would be able to earn a stipend of ₹8000 to 10,000 per month during the four-year BBA honours course.

In the programme, the students will have to work three days a week in a retail outlet to be allotted by the Retailers Association's Skill Council of India (RASCI). Dean of commerce and management faculty Sanjay Kavishwar, told TOI that the NU has entered into an MoU with the RASCI to run the programme for undergraduate students. Besides apprenticeship, RASCI has also provided a high-quality curriculum drafted by top brand practitioners in the country. The students would be able to earn a stipend of Rs8000 to 10,000 per month during the four-year BBA honours course. They would have the option of exiting in the third year, Kavishwar said.
“The aim is to churn out graduates with employable skills. The course mandates completing 24 hours a week in a retail outlet. The students would get hands-on aspects like point of sale, merchandise pricing, display, product selection for promotion and scheme. They will get first-hand training and learn the nitty-gritty of the markets,” Kavishwar said adding that the on-job training evaluation will be done by RASCI assessors. Hence, this will ensure the evaluation quality,” he said. A mentor or in-charge will supervise the performance of the apprentice, mark the attendance, and maintain an assessment record. The colleges opting for this programme will have to pay a fee of Rs 5000 per student each year to RASCI.
Under BBA, the colleges affiliated with the NU had been offering specialisation in marketing, human resources, finance, and business analytics. Following the implementation of National Education Policy 2020, the course now spans four years and students would be awarded BBA honours.
“Nagpur has plenty of job opportunities in retail. This is a pilot project and similar programmes are planned for a few more sectors in the coming years.” Kavishwar said.