Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government should convene a meeting to resolve outstanding issues related to recognition and equivalency of new-generation courses started at universities and colleges in the state by including representatives of the Public Service Commission (PSC), according to the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC).
A meeting of the governing body of the council presided over by Higher Education Minister R Bindu, which made the recommendation, also decided to prepare draft legislation to set up constituent colleges under the universities.
Faculty training
In another decision, the meeting constituted a panel to study the draft guidelines announced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for faculty training under the Indian knowledge system and submit a report. The members of the panel are Prof Romila Thapar (JNU); Dr M S Valiyathan (Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences); Prof P P Divakaran (former professor at TIFR, Mumbai) and Prof Shrinivasa Varakhedy (Vice-Chancellor, Kavi Kalidas Sanskrit University, Ramtek).
The meeting also finalized a proposal to conduct training programmes for university and college teachers regarding the higher education syllabus. A discussion will be arranged between universities and the Planning Board to discuss issues involving Centre of Excellence and Knowledge Translation Research.
Other decisions
A fresh notification would be issued on the Chief Minister’s Nava Kerala post-doctoral fellowships under the latest norms, said KSHEC. The Council has recommended memorial lectures in universities in honour of noted personalities. The experts to conduct this programme will be identified by the Council.
Further recommendations to the government include arranging facilities for transgender students in higher education institutions and setting up of a student mobility fund to enable students attend conferences abroad.