UDF promises sweeping reforms in Kerala’s higher education sector

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has unveiled an ambitious policy roadmap promising comprehensive academic, administrative and student-centric reforms in Kerala’s higher education sector. The education policy document was released in Thrissur on Thursday during the Puthuyuga Yatra led by Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, as part of the coalition’s broader education conclave.

Positioning the reform agenda as a structural overhaul, the UDF said the new policy would be anchored in university autonomy, strengthened academic leadership, social justice and modernisation, while safeguarding secular values and scientific temper.

A major thrust of the policy is on student welfare and campus democracy. To ensure the mental and social safety of students, the UDF has proposed launching a Siddharthan Student Distress App’ and introducing a ‘Siddharthan Anti-Ragging and Student Welfare Act’ to curb ragging and student harassment. The coalition also assured that student data security would be strictly protected.

In a move to strengthen campus democracy, the UDF announced plans to establish an independent Student Academic Election Commission to conduct fair student union elections. It also proposed ensuring an institutionalised Opposition leadership in campus unions and providing rotational student representation from college union chairpersons in university committees.

On university governance, the UDF stated that while political engagement on campuses would be allowed, partisan control would not be tolerated. Administrative authority over academic affairs would be vested in a dedicated academic syndicate. The policy also proposed a comprehensive review and possible unification of existing university Acts to make them more contemporary and efficient.

‘Job Watch Tower’

Responding to evolving global employment trends, the policy outlines the creation of a permanent ‘Job Watch Tower’ to monitor labour market demands and align degree programmes accordingly. Greater emphasis will be placed on skilling and reskilling, along with multi-level credit transfer systems to enhance student mobility across institutions.

The UDF also indicated that the State’s approach to the National Education Policy would be revisited, stating that while structural reforms may be adopted, there would be no compromise on secularism, scientific outlook and communal harmony.

The policy places strong emphasis on diversification and internationalisation. It proposes the inclusion of foreign experts in academic bodies in a non-voting capacity and the appointment of international faculty on a contract basis in higher education institutions.

To curb corruption in faculty appointments, the UDF announced plans to set up an independent Teacher Recruitment Commission. It also proposed redefining teacher workload using modern academic benchmarks, revisiting postgraduate weightage, and deploying retired teachers and AI-assisted systems for examination evaluation.

Highlighting the role of technology, the Front said AI departments would be established in all arts and science colleges, alongside the launch of CAIR–Kerala (Centre for AI Research) with international standards. A data-driven Higher Education Dashboard will also be introduced, tracking student surveys, graduate employment, wellness indicators and migration trends.

The policy also seeks to boost research and student mobility. The UDF plans to relaunch the ‘Semester in India’ programme, originally implemented during the Oommen Chandy government, under the new name ‘Semester in Kerala’. It further proposed academic tourism initiatives in collaboration with the Tourism Department and fair regulation of foreign education recruiting agencies.

To strengthen scientific temper and research output, the coalition announced the establishment of Jawaharlal Nehru Scientific Temper Centres, a Kerala Open Access Journal Platform, and a Chief Minister’s Research Challenge focused on addressing the State’s urgent developmental needs.