Rama Devi Women’s College in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 25: The state is all set to get seven community colleges out of 100 that has been planned across the country by the Union human resource development ministry.

The department of higher education and the department of employment, technical education and training will establish the institutions in Odisha.

Set up on a pilot basis, these colleges will run from existing facilities at different government and private colleges.

While four of the seven colleges will come up on the premises of government autonomous colleges, the remaining three will be set up on campuses of private institutions.

The four government colleges selected for the purpose are Rama Devi Women’s College here, Government Autonomous College, Rourkela, FM Autonomous College, Balasore, and Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur.

“The project aims to impart quality vocational training to students. The community college is an innovative concept in the USA providing an educational alternative to students who are deprived of quality education by way of providing the students with practical skill sets,” said higher education secretary Gagan Dhal.

Students taking admission at these colleges can pursue skill-based courses in the form of an associate degree, diploma or certificate following which they can take admission in an undergraduate college.

“Moreover, the colleges will address the problem of skill shortage in the state as there will be a good number of professionally qualified persons passing out of these institutions,” Dhal said adding that these colleges assume significance as the state aims to provide skill development training to one million youths in the next five years.

“The technical sub-committee of the department formed for the purpose met last week to expedite the work,” said a senior official in the department.

Expression of interest has been invited from private partners as well. “The selection will be made according to the guidelines fixed by the centre. Classes will begin as soon as other formalities are over,” the official added.