Deemed university status for aided colleges? Kerala government plans more relaxations, bill in December

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the controversy over allowing autonomous self-financing and autonomous aided colleges in Kerala to start courses independently, the state government is planning further relaxations in the higher education sector. The proposal to grant deemed university status to aided colleges is also under consideration.

The government plans to grant deemed university status to aided colleges that secure high grades in NAAC accreditation and maintain high academic standards.

The government is also planning to relax the eligibility criteria for investors seeking to establish private universities in the state. A bill incorporating amendments to facilitate the setting up of private universities will be introduced in the Assembly session scheduled for December. The proposed relaxations will cover land requirements, corpus funds and administrative regulations for establishing universities.

Meanwhile, the government's decision to allow autonomous self-financing and autonomous aided colleges to independently start unaided/self-financing courses has triggered controversy. The Higher Education Department has issued a circular stating that such colleges do not require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the government for this purpose.

The existing requirement for prior approval to start new self-financing courses or increase seats in autonomous colleges has been withdrawn. Colleges only need to inform the authorities in advance about the introduction of new courses. Prior approval will also not be required for permanent increases in seats in existing self-financing courses.

Representatives of autonomous self-financing colleges had met Higher Education Minister Roji M. John recently. The circular was issued following the meeting. There are 23 autonomous self-financing colleges in the state. Mar Baselios College of Engineering in Thiruvananthapuram and Amal Jyothi College of Engineering in Kanjirappally are among them.