The Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) is a premier institute of Social Work in India. It was established in 1936 and was recognised as a Deemed University by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in the year 1964. The vision of the institute is to be an institution of excellence in higher education that continually responds to the changing social realities through the development and application of knowledge, towards creating a people-centred and ecologically sustainable society that promotes and protects the dignity, equality, social justice and human rights for all, with special emphasis on marginalised and vulnerable groups.As of today, TISS has campuses in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Tuljapur and Guwahati. Further, it hosts 9 Schools, 5 Independent Centres, and 3 Resource Centres.

In March 2012, T.I.S.S. has signed a MoU with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) with a mandate to incubate a National Vocational University.  This is to be achieved with the help of the seed grant given by AICTE. School of Vocational Education at T.I.S.S., set up in Dec 2011 is primarily responsible to implement this important initiative. TISS has already developed certificate, diploma and degree courses in various vocational streams as per National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). For the purpose, T.I.S.S. has adopted the Community College Model wherein, the training begins with basic orientation and job skills modules, covering the aspects of the World of Work that the student is going to enter. This transition will be designed to be seamless to reduce drop-out while the delivery will be through a work integrated approach. The model proposed is demand derived and, thus, ensures employability.

The diploma and degree certificate will be awarded jointly by T.I.S.S. (in the capacity of a Deemed University) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Recent policy changes at the UGC has further facilitated the process of offering Degree programmes (B.Voc) in different vocational streams. The three year B.Voc. program can be offered after plus two level and corresponds to 5th , 6th  and 7th level of NSQF. T.I.S.S. being a Deemed University is in a position to offer courses at all levels of NSQF.

As part of this agreement TISS has developed a robust eco-system to rope in partners from Industry and Training Institute for imparting work integrated Vocational training in 19 different sectors. These sectors include Automotive; Travel and Tourism; Retail Management; Media and Entertainment; Construction; HR and Sales; Pharmaceuticals; Healthcare; Dialysis Technology; Industrial Tool Manufacturing; Industrial Safety; Logistics; BFSI; Agriculture; Hospitality; ITeS; Telecom, Childcare and Geriatric care.  Three types of training are offered in each of these sectors – 1. B. Voc. 2. Certificate and Diploma Programs and 3. Skill Enhancement programs.  There is a provision for multiple entry / exit and existing employees (who do not have any formal vocational training) can also be enrolled in these programs.

Thus, over the last three years T.I.S.S. has made a substantial progress towards incubation of a National Vocational University. TISS School of Vocational Education (TISS-SVE) is now looking forward to branch out as India’s first of its kind National Vocational University.