Department of Higher Education (Kerala)

The Department of Higher Education is an administrative department under the Government of Kerala responsible for formulating policies, implementing programmes, and managing institutions related to higher education in the state. The department oversees universities, government and aided colleges, technical education institutions, professional colleges, and entrance examinations for professional courses in Kerala.[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 the Government Secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram.

Higher Education Department
Department overview
Jurisdiction India Kerala
HeadquartersThiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Minister responsible
Department executive
  • Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS, Principal Secretary (Higher Education)
Parent departmentGovernment of Kerala
Child agencies
  • Directorate of Collegiate Education
  • Directorate of Technical Education
Websitehighereducation.kerala.gov.in

Ministerial Team

The department is headed by a Cabinet Minister of the Government of Kerala, and the current Minister for Higher Education is R. Bindu.[5]

The administration of the department is overseen by the Principal Secretary to Government, an IAS 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]

Functions

  • Formulation and implementation of policies relating to higher education in Kerala
  • Administration of Acts and Rules governing higher and technical education institutions in the state[8]
  • Supervision of government, aided, and self-financing colleges, universities, professional institutions, and law colleges
  • Administration of entrance examinations to professional courses through the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations
  • Implementation of state and centrally sponsored schemes relating to higher and technical education

Line Departments / Subordinate Offices

The Department exercises administrative control over the following major line departments and bodies:

(Universities are governed as per their respective Acts and statutes.)

Directorate of Collegiate Education

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]

Directorate of Technical Education

Main article: Department of Technical Education

The Directorate 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]

Commissionerate of Entrance Examinations (CEE)

Responsible for conducting entrance examinations and allotting seats to various professional degree courses in Kerala.[11]

National Cadet Corps (Kerala)

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.

Universities and autonomous institutions

Universities under Higher Education Department

Sl. No. University Location Website
1 University of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram www.keralauniversity.ac.in
2 APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) Thiruvananthapuram ktu.edu.in
3 Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala (MGU) Kottayam www.mgu.ac.in
4 Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) Kochi www.cusat.ac.in
5 University of Calicut Malappuram www.uoc.ac.in
6 Kannur University Kannur www.kannuruniversity.ac.in
7 Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University Tirur, Malappuram www.malayalamuniversity.edu.in
8 Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit Kalady ssus.ac.in
9 National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) Kochi www.nuals.ac.in

Autonomous Institutions / Bodies

Sl. No. Institution / Body Type Website
1 LBS Centre for Science and Technology Autonomous Institution lbscentre.kerala.gov.in
2 Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) Autonomous Educational Institution www.ihrd.ac.in
3 Centre for Continuing Education Kerala (CCEK) Autonomous Organisation www.ccek.org
4 Kerala State Centre for Advanced Printing and Training (C-APT) Government Printing & Training Organisation www.captkerala.com
5 Kerala State Science and Technology Museum Science & Technology Museum www.kstmuseum.in
6 Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) Research Council kchr.ac.in
7 National Service Scheme Cell – Kerala NSS (Higher Education Wing) nsskerala.org
8 Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) – Kerala Centrally Sponsored Scheme rusa.education.gov.in
9 Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP Kerala) Autonomous Skill Development Agency asapkerala.gov.in
10 K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts Film & Visual Arts Institute www.krnnivsa.edu.in
11 Kerala State Higher Education Council Statutory Council kshec.kerala.gov.in

References

  1. ^ "Higher Education Department – Government of Kerala". highereducation.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  2. ^ "Kerala's higher education talks with Governor inconclusive, says Minister R Bindu". @mathrubhumi. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  3. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (2025-09-15). "Kerala's higher education sector poised for global recognition: R. Bindu". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-11-09. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ TNIE, Team (2025-03-30). "INTERVIEW | 'Khan's exit has certainly come as a relief': Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  5. ^ Kerala Council of Ministers – Kerala Legislative Assembly
  6. ^ "Key Officials – Higher Education Department". highereducation.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  7. ^ Rules of Business of Government of Kerala
  8. ^ Policies & Acts – Higher Education Department
  9. ^ "Directorate of Collegiate Education, Kerala". collegiateedu.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  10. ^ "Directorate of Technical Education – Government of Kerala". dtekerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  11. ^ "Commissioner for Entrance Examinations". cee.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  12. ^ "National Cadet Corps Kerala". kerala.ncc.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
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