Community colleges in India aim to provide affordable, job-oriented education and skills training to local communities. They offer courses aligned with local industry needs. The government established 150 community colleges across 22 states to promote entrepreneurship and reduce unemployment. Community colleges contribute to entrepreneurism by offering business programs and preparing students to start small businesses. Their practical focus, lower costs, and connections to local enterprises help develop human capital and local economies.

1. COMMUNITY COLLEGES PROMOTE
ENTREPRENEURISM IN INDIA
BY
Shan Mohammad

2. INTRODUCTON
A community college is an institution under India’s higher education system that aims
at providing self employment & job-oriented education to students from local
communities
Community college scheme is a alternative educational system which offers a distinct
learning environment and are recognised for small class sizes, more individualised
attention and a supportive atmosphere
Community scheme presented by state education ministers to HRD Ministry,
government accepted that proposal an put it under the 12th five year plan.
The college offers admission to these courses at an affordable cost without
compromising the quality of education imparted.

3. The concept of community college has basically originated from USA , where
in 1901 first college came into existence named ‘’Joliet Junior Community
College.
This Community College started with 6 students and now approx. 16000
students are studying .Recently in USA there are 1,167 community colleges.

4. Reasons for establishing Community College
India’s population is 1250 million & workforce of around 550 million and population increasing
by 2% per annum.
With the current level of unemployment being around 60 million( these numbers are more
than population of france, Italy & UK)
In terms of demographic more than 50% are young in India. The medium age of country is 24
years, which make it one of the youngest nation of the world.
Over 200 million students enrol for school in class 1st each year but only 20 million of them are
able to finish class 12th .It means 90% of students drop out at different stages.It signifies that
these people do not have necessary education & skills.
 Because of above scenario, government decided to bring community college system for
empowering the youth through skill development

5. Objectives of establishing Community College
TO provide accessible & affordable education and skills.
To offer courses an accordance with the local requirements & needs of the
area or community.
To have involvement & participation of local industry/ business organisation in
framing revising curricula
To educate and encourage the people for entrepreneurship by offering proper
training & development.
To make the youth financial self-dependent & contribute in reducing
unemployment from the nation

6. Continue………………..
Identifying and conducting special skill training programs for Women, SCs/STs,
OBCs, minorities, school dropouts, street children, physically handicapped,
economically weaker sections of the society and other under-privileged persons
 To train & re-skill the existing workforce of industry & business organisations
in local areas
To provide well- infrastructural education system at reasonable fees for the
medium & lower class community.

7. How community colleges are an integral part of
education system across the world
Community Colleges across the world have been working towards the improvement of
traditional education system
They are also providing opportunities for vertical mobility and lifelong learning. Therefore, an
idea to establish 100 Colleges on pilot basis on the pattern of Community Colleges of the world
was shared in the State Education Ministers’ Conference
They are also working towards increasing the acceptance of skill oriented courses among
employers.
They are known by different names in different countries. More known amongst them are the
Community Colleges, which are in existence in the USA for about a century.
These colleges provide education above the secondary level and below the degree level with
appropriate skills keeping in view the needs of local industry and community there by leading to
gainful employment and option for horizontal and vertical mobility.

8. Recent Scenario of Indian Community College
Government decided to establish 200 colleges but got success in making 150 community
colleges all over the country .
These college exist in 22 states of India in various universities
Highest number of community colleges are in Maharashtra(19), kerela(15), Tamil Nadu(13),
Pudhucherry(2).
The community college in Pondicherry University was the first college of India.
The courses are offered in streams such as Information Technology, Fashion Design, Beauty &
Wellness, Science, Hotel Management, Tourism, Civil Construction, Healthcare, Nursing, Retail
Management, Farm Management, Mobile Communication, Automobile Management, Banking &
Financial Services, Jewellery Design, etc.
 The duration of these courses usually from 6th months to 2 years.

9. Contribution of community college in
entrepreneurship in India
Community colleges in engage in entrepreneurism extensively, serving a broad
array of students, local community growth & business community needs.
Community colleges offering business related programs and preparing people
to establish their small business.
Community colleges are creating favourable relationship between community
and business market
Community colleges are contributing to a social change that is building the
Human Resource in communities across the country led by partnership with
local enterprises, business and industry.

10. Many catering and hotel management related diploma are available for
youngsters, they can established their restaurant.
Many community colleges providing diploma of handicraft & stitching for
women can establish their small setup.
Certificate course in repairing AC & Refrigerator are also available by which
people can start their repairing centres.
Farm management courses are specially for rural people, they can start Agro-
based business in their locality .

11. Benefits of studying in a Community College
Lower cost
Opportunity to transfer a 3 or 4 years degree into 1 or 2 year
Focus on teaching
 Small class size
 Practical training
 Program variety
 Student support services

12. How it is different from a regular college?
Community College programs are usually two-year programs and award an
Associate’s Degree on completion; they also offer non-degree certificate
programs of short durations.
Community Colleges have an open-door admission policy and admission
criteria is generally is less stringent when compared to four-year universities and
colleges. Also, the cost of tuition is much lower than four-year universities and
colleges.
In universities theoretical teaching procees apply but in community colleges,
more focus on practical work

13. Conclusion
Various governments of the globe are following the concept of
community colleges as alternative educational system and
promoting entrepreneurism in the country. Indian government is
also trying to support these as much as possible because it is one of
the significant factor which can develop business tactics and can
create a number of entrepreneurs. Soft skills are the need of today’s
era and community colleges are playing a vital role to fulfilling this
gap.

14. REFERENCES
Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education (MCRDCE) On the topic
of “The Impact and Prospects of the Community College System in India”
Brunda Murthy (2016) on ‘’ Community Colleges offering job-oriented courses in India’’
‘’The Business Culture of the Community College’’ book witten by John s. Levin
 Dale Nesbary, Ph.D (2015) on ‘’ The Community College as Entrepreneurial Catalyst’’
Dougherty, Kevin, J. Baki (2012) on ‘’The New Economic Development Role of the Community
College’’
website:- mhrd.gov.in/ and https://www.ugc.ac.in/