TheDepartment of Higher Education is an administrative department under theGovernment of Kerala responsible for formulating policies, implementing programmes, and managing institutions related tohigher education in the state. The department oversees universities, government and aided colleges, technical education institutions, professional colleges, and entrance examinations for professional courses inKerala.[1]
The Higher Education Department was formed to improve the standard of higher education in the state and to ensure coordinated development of university education, technical education, collegiate education, and professional course admissions.[2][3][4]
The department headquarters is located in theGovernment Secretariat atThiruvananthapuram.
 | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction |  India Kerala |
| Headquarters | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India |
| Minister responsible |
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| Department executive |
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| Parent department | Government of Kerala |
| Child agencies |
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| Website | highereducation |
The department is headed by aCabinet Minister of theGovernment of Kerala, and the current Minister for Higher Education isR. Bindu.[5]
The administration of the department is overseen by thePrincipal Secretary to Government, anIAS officer. The present Principal Secretary (Higher Education) is Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS.[6] The Principal Secretary is assisted by Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries and other Secretariat staff as per the Rules of Business of the Government of Kerala.[7]
The Department exercises administrative control over the following major line departments and bodies:
(Universities are governed as per their respective Acts and statutes.)
This is the government agency responsible for establishing new government colleges, introducing new academic programmes, and managing staff matters of aided colleges, including disbursement of salary to teaching and non-teaching staff.[9]
TheDirectorate of Technical Education oversees all state institutions imparting technical and professional education, including government engineering colleges, polytechnics, colleges of fine arts, food craft institutes, commercial institutes, technical high schools, and vocational training centres.[10]
Responsible for conducting entrance examinations and allotting seats to various professional degree courses in Kerala.[11]
Functions as the state unit of the NCC, providing military training, leadership development, and youth involvement programmes within the educational institutions of Kerala.[12]
The department also exercises administrative oversight over universities and professional institutions under the Higher Education sector in the state.
| Sl. No. | University | Location | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | www |
| 2 | APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) | Thiruvananthapuram | ktu |
| 3 | Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala (MGU) | Kottayam | www |
| 4 | Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) | Kochi | www |
| 5 | University of Calicut | Malappuram | www |
| 6 | Kannur University | Kannur | www |
| 7 | Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University | Tirur, Malappuram | www |
| 8 | Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit | Kalady | ssus |
| 9 | National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) | Kochi | www |
| Sl. No. | Institution / Body | Type | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LBS Centre for Science and Technology | Autonomous Institution | lbscentre |
| 2 | Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) | Autonomous Educational Institution | www |
| 3 | Centre for Continuing Education Kerala (CCEK) | Autonomous Organisation | www |
| 4 | Kerala State Centre for Advanced Printing and Training (C-APT) | Government Printing & Training Organisation | www |
| 5 | Kerala State Science and Technology Museum | Science & Technology Museum | www |
| 6 | Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) | Research Council | kchr |
| 7 | National Service Scheme Cell – Kerala | NSS (Higher Education Wing) | nsskerala |
| 8 | Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) – Kerala | Centrally Sponsored Scheme | rusa |
| 9 | Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP Kerala) | Autonomous Skill Development Agency | asapkerala |
| 10 | K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts | Film & Visual Arts Institute | www |
| 11 | Kerala State Higher Education Council | Statutory Council | kshec |
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