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Mumbai University has approved plans to establish 12 new skill-based colleges during the 2027–28 academic year, including five institutions in Mumbai, as part of its five-year perspective plan aimed at aligning higher education with industry requirements under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The proposed colleges will offer vocational and employment-oriented programmes tailored to regional economic needs across Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Palghar. The initiative seeks to enhance employability, improve access to higher education and strengthen the university's role in developing a skilled workforce for emerging sectors.
Mumbai University has approved plans to establish 12 new skill-based colleges during the 2027–28 academic year, marking another step in its transition towards industry-oriented higher education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Of the proposed institutions, five colleges will be located within Mumbai, while the remaining seven will be spread across the university's wider jurisdiction in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Konkan.
The proposed colleges form part of the university's five-year perspective plan, which seeks to shift the focus of higher education from conventional Arts, Science and Commerce programmes towards skill-based and vocational education tailored to regional economic needs. The initiative is intended to improve graduate employability while creating a workforce equipped with practical and industry-relevant skills.
According to the approved plan, the five Mumbai colleges have been proposed at Dadar (West), South Mumbai, Malad (West), Mulund (East) and Kandivali (East). Outside the city, the university plans to establish one college each at Sargaon in Thane district's Murbad taluka and Roha in Raigad district, two colleges in Ratnagiri at Chafe and Dapoli, one in Devgad in Sindhudurg district, and two institutions in Palghar district at Lalonde and Vasai-Kaman.
University officials have indicated that the proposed institutions will offer programmes aligned with the economic profile of their respective regions. Rather than following a uniform academic model, each college is expected to introduce specialised courses catering to local industries, businesses and employment opportunities. The approach is designed to strengthen links between higher education and labour market requirements while supporting regional development.
The expansion continues Mumbai University's broader strategy of promoting skill-based education. The perspective plan, originally approved by the university senate, envisages the gradual establishment of institutions that prioritise vocational learning, entrepreneurship and practical training over conventional degree structures. This aligns with the objectives of the NEP 2020, which encourages multidisciplinary learning, flexible curricula and stronger integration of vocational education within higher education.
The proposed colleges are expected to improve access to higher education in both urban and semi-urban regions while addressing demand for skilled professionals across sectors such as manufacturing, services, logistics, information technology, tourism and healthcare. The university believes that localised skill development will also reduce the gap between academic qualifications and industry expectations.
Education experts have welcomed the proposal, noting that specialised colleges can help students acquire employment-oriented competencies while supporting economic growth across different districts. The decentralised approach is also expected to encourage students to pursue higher education closer to their hometowns, reducing migration to metropolitan campuses.
Once operational, the new colleges will expand Mumbai University's academic footprint while reinforcing its transition towards a more skills-focused higher education ecosystem. The initiative is expected to play an important role in preparing students for evolving industry requirements and strengthening the university's contribution to Maharashtra's knowledge and workforce development agenda.
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