GildaNolan0093 at 16:54, 27 February 2026

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{{Short description|Department responsible for higher education in 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Higher Education Department – Government of Kerala |url=https://www.highereducation.kerala.gov.in |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=highereducation.kerala.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-05 |title=Kerala's higher education talks with Governor inconclusive, says Minister R Bindu |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/keralas-higher-education-talks-with-governor-inconclusive-says-minister-r-bindu-ppoh5hhz |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=@mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2025-09-15 |title=Kerala’s higher education sector poised for global recognition: R. Bindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/keralas-higher-education-sector-poised-for-global-recognition-r-bindu/article70053419.ece |access-date=2025-11-09 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TNIE |first=Team |date=2025-03-30 |title=INTERVIEW {{!}} ‘Khan’s exit has certainly come as a relief’: Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2025/Mar/30/interview-khans-exit-has-certainly-come-as-a-relief-kerala-higher-education-minister-r-bindu |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

The department headquarters is located in the [[Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram|Government Secretariat]] at [[Thiruvananthapuram]].

{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Higher Education Department
| type = Department
| logo = Government of Kerala Logo.svg
| logo_width = 120px
| jurisdiction = {{Flag|India}} Kerala
| headquarters = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala, India
| minister1_name = [[R. Bindu]]
| minister1_pfo = Minister for Higher Education
| chief1_name = Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS
| chief1_position = Principal Secretary (Higher Education)
| parent_department = [[Government of Kerala]]
| child1_agency = Directorate of Collegiate Education
| child2_agency = Directorate of Technical Education
| website = {{URL|https://highereducation.kerala.gov.in/}}
}}

== Leadership ==
The department is headed by a [[Minister (government)|Cabinet Minister]] of the [[Government of Kerala]], and the current Minister for Higher Education is [[R. Bindu]].<ref>[https://www.niyamasabha.nic.in/index.php/chief_minister/ministers Kerala Council of Ministers – Kerala Legislative Assembly]</ref>

The administration of the department is overseen by the [[Principal secretary (India)|Principal Secretary to Government]], an [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] officer. The present Principal Secretary (Higher Education) is Sharmila Mary Joseph IAS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Key Officials – Higher Education Department |url=https://www.highereducation.kerala.gov.in/index.php/officials |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=highereducation.kerala.gov.in |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://gad.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/general_attachment/Rules%20of%20Business%20-%20Part%20II.pdf Rules of Business of Government of Kerala]</ref>

== 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<ref name="policy">[https://www.highereducation.kerala.gov.in/index.php/policies Policies & Acts – Higher Education Department]</ref>
* 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:

* [[Department of Technical Education|Directorate of Technical Education]]
* [[Directorate of Collegiate Education (Kerala)|Directorate of Collegiate Education]]
* [[Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (Kerala)|Commissionerate of Entrance Examinations (CEE)]]
* [[National Cadet Corps (India)|National Cadet Corps]] (Kerala)
* Government Law Colleges and other professional colleges
* Universities under the administrative control of Higher Education, including:
** [[University of Kerala]]
** [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala]]
** [[University of Calicut]]
** [[APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University]]
** [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]]

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

===[[Directorate of Collegiate Education (Kerala)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directorate of Collegiate Education, Kerala |url=https://www.collegiateedu.kerala.gov.in |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=collegiateedu.kerala.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

===[[Directorate of Technical Education (Kerala)|Directorate of Technical Education]]===
{{Main|Department of Technical Education}}
The [[Department of Technical Education|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directorate of Technical Education – Government of Kerala |url=https://www.dtekerala.gov.in |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=dtekerala.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

===[[Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (Kerala)|Commissionerate of Entrance Examinations (CEE)]]===
Responsible for conducting entrance examinations and allotting seats to various professional degree courses in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commissioner for Entrance Examinations |url=https://www.cee.kerala.gov.in |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=cee.kerala.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

===[[National Cadet Corps (India)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Cadet Corps Kerala |url=https://kerala.ncc.gov.in |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=kerala.ncc.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

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

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

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Government of Kerala]]
[[Category:Education in Kerala]]
[[Category:Government departments of Kerala]]

Department of Higher Education (Kerala) - Revision history

GildaNolan0093 at 16:54, 27 February 2026