New Delhi: Delhi students will soon have access to university-recognised degree programmes in fields like animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality, with new industry-linked pathways being planned for Class XII pass-outs.The programmes will combine industry-designed curricula and placement support with formal university degrees aligned with National Education Policy and National Credit Framework. The initiative comes at a time when the country’s creative sector is projected to require nearly 20 lakh skilled professionals by 2030 and is currently growing at an annual rate of 16% to 17%, according to officials.Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU) has signed a five-year agreement with MEL Training & Assessments Limited, the parent company of Maya Academy of Advanced Creativity (MAAC), to introduce university-recognised degrees in the creative arts. Under the arrangement, MAAC will design the curriculum and handle industry placements, while DSEU will provide campus infrastructure, conduct examinations and award formal degrees.Delhi education minister Ashish Sood said three interconnected initiatives—university degree pathways, national film and design hackathon and formation of industry federation—are designed to turn Delhi into a powerhouse for the orange economy, comprising the creative and cultural industries.Alongside the degree programmes, the free hackathon will train 20,000 Delhi school students in hands-on digital content creation. Designed as a “learn by doing” competition, the initiative aims to introduce schoolchildren to potential career pathways in media and design at an early stage.A new industry body, Delhi Creators & AVGC-XR Federation, has also been formed, bringing together more than 300 professionals from the animation, gaming and technology sectors. The federation will assist Delhi govt draft a progressive, industry-aligned local policy for the sector.Officials said the initiatives also align with the Centre’s national roadmap for the AVGC-XR sector, encompassing animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality, which has been identified as a key “sunrise sector”.
