The Kerala government has formed a commission to assess the finances of state universities and recommend steps to ensure their long-term sustainability. It is due to submit a report within six months.
The panel will propose guidelines to prevent financial crises linked to the unplanned creation and operation of specialized universities with low student enrollment. It will also assess the funding needs of government projects, including the Kerala Knowledge Valley and a Research Park.
B.A. Prakash, a former chair of the State Finance Commission and former head of the economics department at Kerala University, will lead the panel. Its other members are K.P. Mani, a former head of the same department, and former bureaucrat Baby Kurian. Sameer Kishan, director of collegiate education, will serve as member secretary.
The commission will identify potential investments for universities and explore funding through public-private partnerships. It will also recommend ways to reduce student migration to other states and abroad by improving the quality of higher education in Kerala.
The Higher Education Department issued the appointment order on the recommendation of the vice-chairperson of the Kerala State Higher Education Council. The commission will also examine university funding needs amid ongoing structural changes at India’s University Grants Commission.