Frequently Asked Questions

Skills are the ability to apply knowledge and use know-how to complete tasks and solve problems. Skills are described as cognitive (involving the use of logical, intuitive and creative thinking) or practical (involving manual dexterity and the use of methods, materials, tools and instruments).

Knowledge means the outcome of the assimilation of information through learning. Knowledge is the body of facts, principles, theories and practices that is related to a field of work or study. Knowledge is described as theoretical and/or factual.

Competence is the proven ability to use acquired knowledge, skills and personal and social abilities, in discharge of responsibility roles. It is the ability to do a job well.

Sector means a grouping of professional activities on the basis of their main economic function, product, service or technology.

Sector Skill Councils is industry-led national partnership organizations that will bring together all the stakeholders from their respective sectors. Based on the needs of the industries in concerned sector, the SSCs are developing the NOSs and QPs for the various job roles in their sectors, and they will align the same to appropriate levels of the NSQF.

The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) organizes qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. These levels are defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learner must possess regardless of whether they were acquired through formal, non-formal or informal learning.

Learner refers to an individual undergoing skill development training, whether in a formal, non-formal or informal setting.

Learning Outcomes represent what a learner knows, understands and is able to do on completion of a learning process, and which would be expressed in terms of knowledge, skills and competence.

“Qualification” means a formal outcome of an assessment and validation process which is obtained when a competent body determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards.

“Trainer” means someone who trains, instructs, teaches or otherwise enables the learner(s) to acquire the appropriate knowledge and skills.

National Occupational Standards (NOS) define the measurable performance outcomes required from an individual engaged in a particular task. It lists down what an individual performing that task should know and also do. These standards can form the benchmarks for various education and training programs and recruitment range of HRM (Human Resource Management) practices.

Occupation is a set of job roles, which perform similar/related set of functions in an industry.

Function is an activity necessary for achieving the key purpose of the sector, occupation, or area of work, which can be carried out by a person or a group of persons. Functions are identified through functional analysis and form the basis of OS.

Job role defines a unique set of functions that together form a unique employment opportunity in an organization.

Qualifications Pack comprises the set of OS, together with the educational, training and other criteria required to perform a job role.