Kochi: As shifting student preferences reshape higher education in Kerala, autonomous colleges and universities in Kochi are revamping their academic courses with industry-oriented and interdisciplinary programmes ahead of the new academic year. Many institutions have also tied up with foreign universities to offer customised courses.
New Programmes and Collaborations
Colleges are introducing specialised courses in artificial intelligence and data science, as well as dual degrees aimed at improving employability, even as approval delays from Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) affect some colleges.
St Teresa's College, Ernakulam, in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University (LBU), UK, has launched a dual master's degree programme in journalism and mass communication. Students enrolling in the programme will earn a Master of Arts (MA) degree from MGU along with a Master of Science (MSc) degree from LBU. "Those enrolling for the course will study the first year at St Teresa's College and the second year at LBU, UK," said a college official.
Sacred Heart College, Thevara, introduced three new self-financing programmes: BSc Aquaculture, BBA Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Master of Social Work. "The college is preparing to offer new aided programmes this year, including BA Politics (Public Policy and Governance) and BSc Physics in Quantum Computing and AI, subject to university and Kerala government's approval," said vice-principal Fr Joseph Varghese Kusumalayam.
Bharat Mata College will begin MSc Actuarial Science and MCA programmes this year. "We have applied for two programmes in Econometrics and Business Analysis and BA Mass Communication and Journalism," said the college's academic director, Johnson K M.
Challenges Over University Approvals
However, uncertainty over university approval for self-financing courses remains a concern. Rajagiri College of Social Sciences refrained from launching new programmes due to lack of approval from MGU. "University officials say the government decided not to allot self-financing programmes for aided colleges. Starting a course without approval may cause inconvenience to students," said principal Binoy Joseph, adding that the matter is now in court.
Faculty members from colleges running courses without university approval said students were facing difficulties in securing educational loans from banks. "Students complain that they are not getting educational loans, but loans are provided to courses with AICTE approval," said a faculty member.
Meanwhile, Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, is awaiting university approval for government-sanctioned undergraduate programmes in International Relations and Data Science. St Albert's College refrained from introducing new courses this year, citing infrastructure expansion ahead of including new courses and to accommodate fourth-year students from the first Four-Year Undergraduate Programme batch in the 2027-28 academic year.
Cochin University of Science and Technology Expands Portfolio
Cochin University of Science and Technology expanded its academic portfolio with five new programmes for the coming year, including BTech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, integrated MSc in Econometrics and Data Science, integrated MA in Hindi Language and Literature, BVoc (Honours) in Data Science and Analytics, and MTech in Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing.
Customising Programmes: A New Catch
Demand for traditional courses is declining, and increasing student migration from the state has forced institutions to introduce new-age programmes. Higher education institutions are concerned over the lack of clarity from the university regarding the duration of master's programmes. The government earlier suggested that students completing the FYUGP course would have the option to complete a master's degree in one year. Despite granting autonomy, MGU interferes in various aspects, including introducing new courses and syllabus preparation, say officials of autonomous colleges.
