Patna: In a significant development, nine colleges under four universities, namely Patna University, Patliputra University, B R Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU) and Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU), in the state are gearing up to implement the scheme of apprenticeship-embedded degree programme (AEDP) from the current academic session (2026-27). The proposed four-year degree programme is completely job-oriented in nature, providing instant employment to the candidates after completing the programme.Governor-cum-chancellor Syed Ata Hasnain has already approved the ordinance and regulations of this programme along with seven AEDP course structures for the four universities.The seven approved course structures are:1. B Com with major in banking financial services and insurance; retail operations; e-commerce operations; human resource operations2. BA with major in content and creative writing3. B Sc with major in health care management; digital electronicsThe higher education institutions which have been selected under this scheme include B N College (digital electronics) and Magadh Mahila College (health care management) under Patna University; College of Commerce, Arts and Science (digital electronics); Ganga Devi Mahila College (financial services and insurance); and J D Women’s College (retail operations and financial services) under Patliputra University; Bhagalpur National College (retail operations) under TMBU, and R N College, Hajipur (financial services and insurance); RSS Science College, Sitamarhi (financial services and retail operations) and L N Dubey College, Motihari (digital electronics and financial services) under BRABU.State’s higher education director N K Agrawal said initiation of these programmes is aimed at enhancing the skill of our youths at the graduation stage and making them employable. The programmes would be introduced only after making necessary infrastructural arrangements at the institutions and fostering a fruitful industry-academia linkage, he said.Students will complete core academic coursework in the initial semesters and then transition to a full-time, mandatory apprenticeship in the final semesters, said Patna University internal quality assurance cell (IQAC) director Birendra Prasad.