Nagpur News.
The University Grants Commission, in a decision, has opened vocational education options for those students who pursue higher studies after passing Class 12 examination. The UGC has approved a proposal on starting 98 Community Colleges across the country including three in Nagpur. Subsequently, in the 2014-15 academic session, job-oriented courses of six months to two years period will be run in these Community Colleges.
16 proposals in Maharashtra:
A total of 16 Community Colleges have been proposed to be opened in Maharashtra which is much higher than other states. The 16 Community Colleges include 3 in Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), one in Mumbai University (Kelkar College, Sindhudurg), 5 in Pune University, 2 in Marathwada University, 3 in Shivaji University (Kolhapur), and 2 in Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University. Similarly, 13 Community Colleges will be opened in Tamilnadu, 14 in Assam, and 11 in Kerala.
UGC received 320 applications:
According to information, the UGC received 320 applications from across the country. The present list of Colleges is part of UGC’s plan of 100 Community Colleges and based on National Standards and Vigilance Programme of 12th Five-Year Plan.
According to experts, now students will not have to study the traditional Arts, Commerce and Science courses. New courses along with job opportunities will be made available for students through 3-year Bachelor of Vocation (BVoc) course. Every course will have admission capacity of 60 students.
Double provisions:
This course will prove a help in skill development and expertise among students in accordance with the demands of industries. The student will also gain skills of completing their given jobs adroitly apart from regular and vocational education. The course has double provisions for Diploma. After completing the course for the first year, one-year Diploma and after completing the course the second year, two-year Advanced Diploma will be given.
Rs 1.85 Crore assistance:
The colleges selected for first three years of BVoc course through National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) would given financial assistance of Rs 1.85 crore by UGC. The NSQF was given sanction by the Cabinet Committee on December 19, 2013 for development of skills and can be funded through Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) or National Higher Education Mission.
Present situation:
At present, educational institutes are running the job-oriented courses according to their ways and means. The period of course, name, nomination eligibility all depend the concerned educational institutes. This creates problems in categorization of Certificate, Diploma and Degree and also creates problems for students during employment. The new courses deal with Automobile Management, Food Processing, Horticulture, Health Culture, Power Plant, and Hospitality and Tourism.
