UDF promises sweeping reforms in Kerala’s higher education sector

UDF unveils comprehensive reforms in Kerala's higher education, focusing on student welfare, university autonomy, and AI integration.

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.

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.