An initiative to fortify degree courses

Updated on: Monday, February 22, 2010

Students studying in the government colleges in Tamil Nadu are all smiles. They can now get a diploma or certificate in their field of interest, even when they are pursuing their degree courses in any of the government colleges.

Enabling students to choose an area of their interest and, providing them an opportunity to get a diploma in that subject not only exposes them to new ideas but also makes them employable.

Under this new scheme, all government arts and science colleges in Tamil Nadu will collaborate with the technical institutes in the district. Students can enrol in any of the one-year, six-month part-time courses offered by the technical institutes. These add-on courses are only an option and not compulsory.

About 3,000 students studying in 62 government colleges will benefit from the facility. A nominal fee of Rs. 1,500 and 3,000 will be charged for six month and one-year diploma courses respectively. Students can pay the fee in two instalments.

Launching the initiative recently, Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudi said that such add-on courses would greatly benefit students in the rural areas. Such fortification of the basic degree courses also provided them the necessary skill sets required for a job.

Apart from giving them a chance to explore other avenues, such add-on courses promoted self-employment. And for those students who got the opportunity to go overseas for higher education, it would be an added advantage for getting part-time jobs in foreign land location, he said.

The following add-on courses will be offered to students: Multimedia, Tally, AC technology, Hardware servicing, Domestic Writing, Networking, Web designing and animation, E-commerce, Driving (light and heavy vehicles), beautician course, Garment quality inspection and export merchandising, communication skills, office automation and DTP.

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