The Department of Higher Education has unveiled an ambitious draft policy framework ‘Vision 2031’ that provides a strategic plan to position the state as a global knowledge economy and global academic destination.
The main goal of the plan is to attract 10,000 international students and 30,000 students from other Indian states annually by 2031.
Unveiled recently at a stakeholder workshop in Kottayam, the proposal recasts universities as engines of societal transformation that go beyond their conventional roles in teaching and research to foster civic responsibility, engagement in public policy, social innovation and community development.
The policy proposes the development of dedicated “cities for higher learning” in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur. Kochi is considered a center for studying global business, maritime studies, fintech, port management, artificial intelligence and business analytics, while Thiruvananthapuram can specialize in science and technology, space science, cyber security, biomedical engineering, public policy and international relations.
Kozhikode is proposed as a hub for higher education with a focus on liberal arts, digital humanities, hospitality, aviation, climate and coastal studies and cultural heritage. Thrissur is proposed as a center for performing arts, Ayurveda, agricultural technology, cooperative banking, event management, health and semiconductor technology.
The draft document also outlines a university modernization plan that advocates the reconfiguration of selected institutions into autonomous innovation-based universities. These would move away from traditional structures and favor entrepreneurship, intellectual property ownership and industrial cooperation.
Innovation and enterprise hubs are also being discussed in all universities through the integration of incubation centres, technology transfer offices and startup accelerators in collaboration with the Kerala Startup Mission and other agencies. The creation of thematic research clusters in areas such as climate, health innovation, artificial intelligence, quantum science and life sciences is also on the agenda.
The draft framework further supports a shift towards a federal university model with the establishment of primary schools that have full academic autonomy. These colleges will share infrastructure such as libraries, research parks, faculty development centers, digital platforms, hostels and laboratories.
In the area of legal education, the policy proposes the establishment of a directorate of legal education to coordinate law schools and integrate legal studies with governance, policy and judicial reforms.
The proposal also calls for a comprehensive quality assurance framework through a three-tier system comprising State Assessment and Accreditation Council (SAAC), Kerala Institutional Assessment Framework (KIRF) and State Level Quality Assurance Cell (SLQAC) to ensure academic standards.
Published – 21 Oct 2025 19:23 IST
