The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) has mooted a standardised academic and examination calendar for universities.
The first governing body meeting of the council decided to study the possibility of implementing a split vacation system. It has been proposed to replace the present two-month annual vacation pattern, i.e., from April to May, with a split pattern to schedule vacation for November and May.
The introduction of such a system in the past is considered to have helped in maximising the mandatory number of teaching days (90) in a semester and facilitating the smooth conduct of examinations.
It has also been seen as effective in eliminating teacher absenteeism in examination and valuation duties. The council decided to constitute a committee of Pro Vice Chancellors to submit recommendations to implement the proposal.
The governing body entrusted the KSHEC with undertaking an all-Kerala higher education survey on the lines of the All India Survey on Higher Education. Details of the higher education institutions under various parameters will be collected under the survey.
The difficulties faced by researchers, including the availability of approved research guides, with the implementation of the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of PhD Degree) Regulation, 2009, will also be studied by a panel.
Presiding over the discussions, Education Minister C. Ravindranath called for formulating a comprehensive academic master plan to ensure time-bound completion of examinations and declaration of results.
The government also decided to allot a plot near Technocity at Pallippuram here to establish ‘Unnathi Bhavan’, which will become the permanent headquarters of the council.
KSHEC Vice Chairman Rajan Gurukkal, member-secretary Rajan Varughese, Higher Education Principal Secretary Usha Titus, State Planning Board member B. Ekbal, and the Vice Chancellors of universities participated in the meeting.
