Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) is a state private university located in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Established under an Act of the Maharashtra State Legislature, it is part of the wider Symbiosis family of educational institutions and focuses specifically on skill-based and vocational higher education aligned with industry requirements.
| Name | Symbiosis Skills and Professional University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | SSPU |
| Type | State private university |
| Location | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Country | India |
| Affiliation | Symbiosis group of institutions |
The university was conceptualised as a skills-oriented counterpart to the traditional academic universities run under the Symbiosis umbrella. While Symbiosis International (Deemed University) and Symbiosis Open Education Society have historically focused on conventional academic disciplines such as management, law, and the humanities, SSPU was set up to deliver programmes that integrate vocational training, hands-on practice, and formal degree education.
The university operates within the framework of skill universities recognised by the Government of Maharashtra, and its curricula are designed to be aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and the standards prescribed by various Sector Skill Councils under the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
SSPU offers diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programmes structured around applied and professional disciplines. Areas of study typically include:
Programmes generally combine classroom instruction with workshop training, laboratory work, and on-the-job training or internships with industry partners.
As one of the early skill-focused private universities in Maharashtra, SSPU represents a shift in Indian higher education toward formally credentialing vocational and professional training. By awarding degrees rather than only certificates, it seeks to bridge the long-standing gap between academic qualifications and employability skills, a theme central to national initiatives such as Skill India.