Keralam to overhaul technical education curriculam to meet emerging technologies: Minister

Keralam will undertake a comprehensive overhaul of its technical education sector, with courses being updated to keep pace with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and robotics, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John has said.

Speaking after inaugurating the laboratory block annexe of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department at the Government College of Engineering, Kannur, on Friday, the Minister said traditional courses needed to be replaced or revamped to meet changing industry requirements and emerging opportunities.

Technologies such as AI, biotechnology, and robotics engineering offered immense possibilities, while technical AI was poised to bring about major transformation globally. Keralam should be able to harness these developments, he said.

Though the State had made significant progress in primary education, higher education had not witnessed a comparable level of growth, forcing many students to depend on institutions outside the State. The government aims to create an ecosystem that would enable students to pursue higher studies and find employment within the State.

Several engineering colleges in Keralam offered a wide range of courses, and many graduates from these institutions had secured high-profile jobs abroad. However, the next generation would need access to more advanced and contemporary courses to sustain such achievements. Steps towards introducing these changes have already begun, he said.

Presiding over the function, Taliparamba MLA T.K. Govindan said the technical and higher education sector were undergoing substantial changes. He expressed hope that visionary leadership would help the Government College of Engineering, Kannur, secure modern facilities.

Public Works department executive engineer C. Savitha presented the report. Anthur municipal chairperson Sathyadevi, ward councillors, and officials were present.

The contractors who executed the work were felicitated at the function. The laboratory and annex building were completed at a cost of ₹4.33 crore.