Community Colleges are an alternative system of education, which aims to empower individuals through appropriate skill development leading to gainful employment in collaboration with the local industry and the community. It helps in developing skills for employment and self-employability particularly to the marginalised and underprivileged sections of society. Community colleges offer the advantage of tailoring programs to local needs and state-based requirements by using approaches that will be most acceptable to workers in the given community.

Community Colleges generally have a 2-year curriculum that either leads to an Associate degree for transfer to an undergraduate college or lead to the students’ direct entry into any occupation or trade. These colleges are a source of economic growth because they provide an educated and skilled workforce that improves the quality of life for individual students, communities, and the nation.

An institution applying to IGNOU for registration as a Community College, should be run by an educational agency/registered society/Trust or corporate body rooted in community-based activities. They must be credible institutions with a minimum period of five years of proven service and be located in the community it seeks to serve.

While submitting the “expression of interest”, the applicant (educational agency/registered society/Trust or corporate body) will specify the Programme Sectors and levels (Certificate/Diploma/Associate Degree), it wishes to offer through the Community College. The detailed programme content and Certificate/Diploma Programmes of IGNOU, which the institution wishes to use, should be clearly mentioned.

The IGNOU will

› Register students and award certificate diploma or associate degree to
them
› Fee payable to IGNOU per registration will be: Rs 250 for certificate, Rs 500
for diploma and Rs 750 for associate degree. Examination fee will also be
charged as and when applicable
› The charges from the students for their training will be fixed by the
organisation in consultation with the IGNOU.
› Courses are available in teacher education, agriculture, paramedical,
engineering, paralegal, etc.

You can file Expression of Interest (EOI) along with details of activities, certifications, audit reports, justification for the chosen courses and their utility for the community, to the IGNOU for scrutiny and selection.
For details: visit: http://www.ignou.ac.in/comm-colleges.htm