New Delhi: The Delhi University (DU) has decided to introduce five new vocational courses from the next academic session. The courses include one each on retail management and automobiles and three on information technology.

The courses will be offered in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). The School of Open Learning (SOL) will run these courses from its campus.

DU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CII to make students professionally competitive. As per the MoU, the DU will hold theoretical classes while practical training will be taken care of by CII and its industry partners.

"These short-term vocational courses will help students learn the traits of the industry by imparting the required skills to make them employable," said vice-chancellor Prof. Deepak Pental.

While signing the MoU, Vijay Thadani of CII said, "Employability is the key issue. The students are lack of basic skills. The introduction of such courses will definitely help students to get employment.''

The duration of all the courses will be for six months including training for two months. The courses are designed in consultation with the CII and the admission process for the courses will be completed by first of July.