The changing job market requirements have led the University of Calicut (CU) in Keralam to look out for new academic programmes that can attract students to its affiliated colleges and the main campus at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district.According to official sources, the university is planning to launch at least 50 new undergraduate courses and 30 postgraduate courses soon in view of the rapid changes happening in academic disciplines and the demands of the employment market.A senior official pointed out that employers are increasingly seeking skills in emerging areas. “This shift is reflected in the admissions data across the affiliated colleges. Sanctioned seats in a number of long-established programmes, offered in similar form by many colleges, are not getting filled, while newer programmes linked to a defined skill or profession continue to attract their full intake,” he says.Officials believe that there is ample scope to widen the university’s offerings into emerging and interdisciplinary fields such as finance and investment, data and analytics, and health and rehabilitation services. However, no single body is entrusted with identifying and recommending such programmes at present. Boards of studies recommend within the subject they deal with, while faculties, the academic council, and the Syndicate consider the proposals placed before them. The fields that do not fall within an existing subject area will not be proposed in the normal course.In this context, Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran has set up a committee led by K. George Thomas, retired Professor, Indian Institutes of Science and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, to study and report on the feasibility of novel programmes. Its other members are T.M. Vasudevan and A.K. Shahina Mol, Syndicate members; N. Muhammadali, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication; and Rajeev S. Menon, Department of Chemistry, university campus; K.P. Soman, Dean, School of Artificial Intelligence, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Deemed-to-be University, Coimbatore; and Dhanya Alex, Director, Sahrdaya Institute of Management Studies, Kodakara, Thrissur.The sources said the panel has been asked to submit its report in a month. The affiliated colleges can apply for new courses between September 1 and October 31. Applications with a fine can be submitted till December 31. Thus, varsity officials hope that at least some of the new courses suggested by the panel can be launched this academic year itself. Published - September 08, 2026 07:47 pm IST