Hyderabad: The Higher Education Council decided to introduce industry-ready degree courses from the 2026–27 academic year, aiming to boost student enrolment and improve employment prospects through future-focused programmes.
Officials said new undergraduate courses will be launched in advanced sectors such as maritime, aviation and defence. At present, no private management colleges in the state offer such specialised degrees. The council plans to introduce these programmes through government institutions to ensure wider access and better academic oversight.
The move forms part of a broader overhaul of higher education, with a focus on aligning curricula to industry demand. Council sources said students will be trained with practical and sector-specific skills so they graduate ready for the job market. The industry-ready degree courses are being designed after analysing declining interest in traditional programmes.
Over the past few days, the council held detailed consultations with vice-chancellors of various universities to discuss the proposed reforms. The discussions focused on identifying gaps in existing courses and reshaping academic offerings to meet future workforce needs.
Universities asked to fast-track industry-ready degree courses
As part of the push for industry-ready degree courses, the education department accelerated coordination with universities. Officials said plans are in place to ensure the new programmes are ready before the start of the 2026–27 academic year.
The reforms gained momentum under the Telangana Rising vision, with the Chief Minister repeatedly stressing that outdated courses limit employment opportunities. At the national level, discussions during a recent meeting of state chief secretaries highlighted the need to strengthen human resource development under the Viksit Bharat goal.
Education department secretary Yogita Rana recently met university registrars to review preparedness for launching the new courses. Officials said timelines were set for curriculum design, approvals and implementation.
Higher Education Council chairman V Balakista Reddy said staying updated was critical for the education sector. He noted that ITIs were already upgraded into advanced training centres and special reading material was prepared to improve English skills among rural students. He added that industry experts will be involved in designing the new curricula to ensure relevance and quality.
