Here's some good news for students interested in skill-based courses after Class XII.

Five community colleges - a scheme introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to increase job opportunities for youths - will start under Kolhan University from this academic session.

Existing campuses of Graduate School College for Women, Jamshedpur Workers' College, Tata College in Chaibasa, KS College in Seraikela and JLN College in Chakradharpur will play host to these community colleges but will be manned by a different set of people.

Though the institutes have been identified, courses are yet to be decided upon.

While Tata College has received its approval last year to start a mining course under the community college scheme, Graduate School College for Women is yet to receive the nod for banking and finance. The rest three have not yet sent proposals to the UGC via the state HRD department.

"We have sent our proposal to the state HRD and will begin the courses by July," said Usha Shukla, principal of Graduate School College for Women.

According to Kolhan University registrar S.C. Dash, Tata College has received central funds. "We hope other colleges also get the largesse before July," said Dash.

The idea of community college was first endorsed at the conference of state education ministers in February 2012. A panel of education ministers from nine states was formed to finalise the scheme's framework. Later, the Union government included the idea in its 12th Five Year Plan.

The UGC planned around 200 such colleges across India modelled on the lines of those in the US. They will offer students skill-based courses from six months to two years. Students will get certificates and diplomas at the end of their course as well as links to jobs.