Deemed status for high-performing aided colleges

The state government is considering deemed university status for academically strong aided colleges as it prepares further higher education reforms amid controversy over greater freedom for autonomous institutions.

The proposal would focus on aided colleges with high grades from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and established academic standards. It remains under consideration, with no final decision or list of eligible institutions announced.

The government is also preparing legislation to ease conditions for establishing private universities. Amendments are expected to be introduced during the Legislative Assembly session scheduled for December, covering land requirements, corpus funds and administrative controls applicable to prospective investors.

The proposed changes follow a Higher Education Department circular dated November 6 that removed the requirement for certain autonomous colleges to obtain separate government no-objection certificates before introducing self-financing courses or expanding their intake.

The circular distinguishes between courses receiving government assistance and those operating on a self-financing basis. Autonomous self-financing colleges and the self-financing sections of autonomous aided colleges may introduce qualifying courses without a separate government NOC, subject to applicable university and regulatory requirements.

Autonomous aided institutions must inform the government in advance of proposed self-financing courses. Decisions on increasing seats in existing self-financing programmes can be taken by the relevant universities or regulatory authorities without another layer of state approval.

The exemption does not extend to new courses in the aided stream. Government and aided colleges must still secure the required government clearance before starting aided programmes or permanently increasing seats in existing aided courses. Non-autonomous self-financing colleges also remain subject to approval requirements for new courses.

Another change extends the renewal period for applicable self-financing college NOCs from one year to three years. The department has specified a challan charge of Rs 650 per course and an affidavit fee of Rs 810 for the three-year period.

Universities must submit details of newly introduced programmes and changes in student intake to the government after admissions are completed each academic year. The department has also retained provisions for government intervention where decisions require special clearance or fall outside existing rules.

The deemed university proposal is separate from the circular. Such recognition is governed by national higher education regulations and cannot be conferred solely through a state government’s decision. Any qualifying college would have to satisfy the applicable requirements and obtain recognition through the prescribed central process.

Kerala has 23 autonomous self-financing colleges, including Mar Baselios College of Engineering in Thiruvananthapuram and Amal Jyothi College of Engineering at Kanjirappally.