{
  "id": 1754706,
  "title": "KSHEC moots overhaul of academic calendar preparation for UG programmes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/kshec-moots-overhaul-of-academic-calendar-preparation-for-ug",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T17:00:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kshec-moots-overhaul-of-academic-calendar-preparation-for-ug-programmes/article71361613.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of the academic calendar preparation in the state's higher education institutions. The proposal was unveiled during a Vice-Chancellors’ Conclave organized by the council. The plan aims to prepare the academic calendar for a batch of students from their undergraduate course commencement to completion, a period spanning four years. To facilitate this, a portal will be developed, which will be mandatory for all universities to upload their academic calendar information starting from the 2027 academic year. Non-compliance will be flagged by the portal. The council also intends to set deadlines for various processes, such as releasing funds for events like youth festivals on time, contingent upon settling previous year accounts through unions. The discussions at the conclave also touched upon the recruitment of retired teachers for evaluating answer scripts to maintain the academic calendar's continuity. Retired teachers' involvement would ensure that the teaching schedule remains unaffected. The council is also introducing the Kerala Campus Diversity Mission to attract students from foreign and other Indian states, offering fellowships to two students from each state to study in Kerala. To address declining enrollment in traditional programmes, the KSHEC suggests restructuring existing courses to incorporate interdisciplinary programs, leveraging the expertise of permanent teachers. The council's Vice-Chairperson and Member Secretary discussed ongoing activities and future plans, while the Higher Education department's Principal Secretary presented government initiatives in the sector. Suggestions were made to enhance the quality of higher education and improve administrative efficiency, emphasizing the importance of strong coordination among the government, universities, and the KSHEC. The conclave commended the Higher Education Minister and the government for their swift action in response to the assault on the V-C of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Ciza Thomas.",
  "summary": "Preparation of academic calendar for four years among significant proposals presented at Vice-Chancellors’ Conclave organised by the council.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}