Some 70,000 students of Kolhan University can expect a better academic year from 2016.

This year, after eight long years, the university has resolved to appoint teachers, introduce the semester system, digitise the admission process, implement Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), work to accredit all its constituent colleges necessary by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and set up a placement cell.

Registrar of Kolhan University S.C. Das said their first and foremost challenge had been the dearth of teachers across the colleges.

"In colleges in rural areas, sanctioned posts for teachers may be 45 but only eight work. The university has given the documents and roster to the state government, which is serious about combating the problem," registrar Das said.

There are 620 sanctioned teachers' posts across its constituent colleges but only 340 are working as of now. The last appointment of teachers was done in 2008.

An official of the varsity said students in urban areas could still manage but the condition in rural areas such as Baharagora and Chaibasa was much worse.

"Several departments in many colleges have only one teacher, mocking University Grants Commission's norm of 20:1 teacher-student ratio," said the official.

Apart from solving the teachers' crisis, the Kolhan University is mulling to go fully digital this year.

The varsity debuted with online admissions in postgraduate and BEd departments in 2015, which will be extended to graduation-level this year. Now, colleges will have to follow online procedures right from admissions to registrations. From July 2016, the new academic session, the university will also introduce semester and credit system.

"We are also planning to set up a placement cell to help students bag jobs," added Das.

The varsity is also set to implement RUSA, a centrally sponsored scheme to help get strategic funds for institutions of higher education, for which NAAC accreditation will be needed. The varsity recently organised a workshop to make colleges aware of the process and benefits of a NAAC tag. But, only Jamshedpur Co-operative College and Karim City College in Jamshedpur are ready for NAAC inspection.

Vice-chancellor of Kolhan University R.P.P. Singh said they were trying their best to upgrade colleges and overhaul the standard of education.

He also stressed on bridging the gap between colleges in urban and rural areas of Kolhan for parity in the standard of higher education.

"Many institutes never approached NAAC accreditation. We are organising sessions, especially for rural colleges, so that they can also reap the benefits of the funds granted to NAAC accredited colleges," said Kolhan VC Singh.