In a move that is expected to improve employability of college students, especially from backward regions, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sanctioned a grant of Rs2.45 crore for seven community colleges in the State to be made functional from the ensuing academic session with additional support from various industrial partners.
“Community college is an innovative educational alternative providing holistic education and eligibility for employment to the disadvantaged. Such colleges have
been successful in the USA,” said Higher Education Principal Secretary Gagan Kumar Dhal here on Saturday after receiving the concerned letter from the UGC.
The Government Autonomous College at Bhawanipatna, MPC College, Baripada, Dharanidhar Autonomous College, Keonjhar, and Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Baleswar, would have courses of Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM). The Khallikote Autonomous College, Brahmapur, Government Autonomous College, Rourkela, and Vikram Dev College, Jeypore, would have courses on
Retail Management.
Each Community College would have 50 seats and the duration of a course would be 800-1200 hours and 12 months as a Diploma programme. All these colleges would have industry partners to run the show as the students would be absorbed in jobs after receiving vocational education.
A college would sign an MoU with an industry partner and ensure involvement of the partner at every stage of running the course. The industry partners would have their representatives in the boards of management and board of studies of the colleges and would be involved in designing the curriculums.
These colleges are recognised under the UGC Act and would receive Central assistance like other institutions recognised by the UGC.
After considering the Department of Higher Education’s proposals, the UGC has recommended seven cases for the State
with a funding of Rs 35 lakh for each college.