Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala University has announced four-year degree programmes for the first time in the state.

The varsity will start BA (Hons) Languages & Communication Skills, BA (Hons) Politics & Public Administration, and BSc (Hons) Life Science courses at Kariavattom campus during the current academic year itself on an experimental basis, Vice Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal said.

Objective of new programme

The basic objective of the four-year undergraduate programmes is to facilitate the students to choose the field of study of their interest, the Vice Chancellor added.

B Com courses directly run by the University through its University Institute of Technology (UIT) centres will be modified to four-year Professional B Com programmes.

Honours courses too soon

Admission to four-year degree honours courses too will be done when the admission process for the current academic year is initiated, he said.

Radical move

The Letter of Intent to start four-year degree courses has been invited from affiliated colleges, which already conduct at least a degree course and its post-graduate programme. They have to submit the same before June 20. Discussions will be held with the colleges before finalizing the four-year courses to be run.

All the varsities will switch over to the four-year degree programmes by the next academic year. The Kerala University will conduct a workshop involving experts on July 6.

The State Government had earlier announced that the new four-year courses would be launched from the academic year 2024-25 onwards. Higher Education Minister R Bindu said the universities that have already developed the four-year programmes would have the option to offer them on an experimental basis in the current academic year itself.