Hyderabad: Telangana plans new UG courses in emerging sectors such as maritime, aviation, and defence from the 2026-27 academic year to strengthen higher education and improve student employability.
Accordingly, officials of the state higher education council said the move aimed to increase student enrolment. At the same time, it sought to align degree programmes with present industry needs.
Notably, government institutions will offer these programmes. At present, no private management colleges provide such specialised courses.
Meanwhile, the council said its focus remained on creating industry-ready graduates. Recently, meetings with vice-chancellors reviewed the proposed academic reforms in detail.
New UG courses part of Telangana Rising vision
According to council chairman V. Balakista Reddy, the reforms followed a review of declining interest in traditional courses. Therefore, the council designed the new UG courses to meet future workforce demands.
The initiative also aligns with the Telangana Rising vision of the state government. In this context, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has repeatedly said outdated courses limit job prospects for students.
At the national level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged states to focus on human resource development under the Viksit Bharat goal. Consequently, education officials accelerated the process of finalising new courses.
Although the higher education council proposed curriculum reforms earlier, some universities showed a limited response. However, officials now plan to complete preparations well before the 2026-27 academic year.
Recently, Education Secretary Yogita Rana met university registrars to discuss timelines. As a result, officials said students would access the new UG courses from the start of the academic year.
Highlighting the need for constant upskilling, Balakista Reddy said curriculum updates were essential. In this direction, the state upgraded ITIs into advanced training centres.
Additionally, the government prepared special reading material to improve English skills among rural students. Finally, he said industry experts would help design the new UG courses to keep them relevant.