The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (Tansche) has initiated a major academic exercise aimed at modernising higher education in the state. The council will conduct a thorough analysis of the curriculum for ten key arts and science degree courses offered by ten state universities.
Which Courses Are Under Review?
The subjects selected for this comprehensive review span both science and arts streams. They include zoology, botany, chemistry, physics, computer science, commerce, economics, English, Tamil, and history. A committee of subject experts has been formed to lead this analysis, which is not limited to the state's framework alone.
M P Vijayakumar, the Vice-Chairman of Tansche, stated that the expert panels will also scrutinise the curriculum of leading universities within India and internationally. Their mandate is to compare these syllabi and identify the best practices that can be adopted by Tamil Nadu's state universities. The entire project is scheduled for completion within the next three months.
Bridging the Gap with Global Standards
The findings and recommendations from this analysis will be compiled into a public report. Vijayakumar emphasised that state universities which have not yet revised their curricula can utilise this document as a crucial input. "We expect it will bring about a change in courses and assessment method," he added, highlighting the goal of transformative reform.
Insights from committee members reveal the current gaps. D Mubeen Sultana, an associate professor from JBAS College for Women, Chennai, and a member of the zoology expert committee, provided a clear example. She noted that unlike most Tamil Nadu universities, institutions outside the state and abroad offer more application-oriented zoology courses.
"Foreign universities are offering integrated courses such as biological sciences and life sciences, which combine botany and zoology," Sultana explained. "Some Indian universities offer tri-majors, while others offer applied courses like advanced zoology and biotechnology to directly improve job prospects for graduates. Of 15 core papers, seven or eight are application-oriented."
Future Plans for Arts and Humanities
The council's vision extends beyond the current list of ten subjects. Following this three-month review, Tansche plans to undertake a similar overhaul for arts and humanities subjects in the next academic year. The primary objective is to provide students in these streams with greater clarity on potential career paths, thereby enhancing the value of their degrees.
This initiative marks a significant step by the Tamil Nadu government to align its higher education offerings with contemporary academic trends and industry demands. By benchmarking against national and international standards, the state aims to equip its graduates with more relevant skills and knowledge, ultimately boosting their employability in a competitive job market.
