Tamil Nadu Begins Expert-Student Dialogue to Improve Higher Education System

In a major step towards reforming higher education in Tamil Nadu, the state government has launched a new initiative that brings students and academic experts together for direct conversations. This dialogue-based approach is designed to understand ground-level challenges faced by students and to use their input to strengthen the higher education structure in the state.

In a major step towards reforming higher education in Tamil Nadu, the state government has launched a new initiative that brings students and academic experts together for direct conversations. This dialogue-based approach is designed to understand ground-level challenges faced by students and to use their input to strengthen the higher education structure in the state. The first round of interactions has already begun across select colleges and universities, where experts are listening to student voices on curriculum, infrastructure, internships, skill development, and more.

I’m writing about this topic because I believe education reform should not just be decided in boardrooms—it needs to include those who are actually living the system every day. Students know what’s missing in the classroom, what skills they want to learn, and what kind of support they need to succeed. By bringing them into the conversation, Tamil Nadu is taking a refreshing and democratic step towards building a stronger, more practical and future-ready education system. If you’re a student, teacher, or policymaker, this is a moment worth paying attention to.

Why This Dialogue Matters

The higher education department in Tamil Nadu wants to move beyond top-down policies and instead focus on what students actually experience in colleges. By engaging them directly, the government hopes to:

Understand what students think about the current syllabus
Identify gaps in industry-relevant skills and job training
Collect suggestions on teaching methods, language of instruction, and infrastructure
Make learning more practical and inclusive

This dialogue is happening as part of the state’s push to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, while still retaining local needs and priorities.

How the Dialogue Is Being Organised

The interaction sessions are being held at select colleges across the state. Education department officials, subject experts, and academicians sit with student groups and listen to their experiences. Some areas being covered include:

Relevance of current subjects to job markets
Opportunities for internships and hands-on learning
Whether classrooms allow for critical thinking or just memorisation
Availability of digital tools, library access, and mental health support
Inclusivity of students from rural and marginalised backgrounds

Each session also collects written feedback from students, which will be compiled and analysed for future policy planning.

What Students Are Saying So Far

Some early inputs from students have been eye-opening. Here are a few common suggestions that have emerged:

Include more industry visits and real-world projects in college curriculum
Reduce theory-heavy content and focus on application-based learning
Offer more short-term skill-based certifications alongside degrees
Improve soft skills training like communication, team work, and leadership
Make counselling and mental health services more accessible on campus

Many students also stressed the need for stronger placement support, especially in government colleges.

Government’s Plan Ahead

After collecting feedback from across districts, the higher education department will:

Create a roadmap to update curriculum frameworks
Work with universities and autonomous colleges to restructure programmes
Allocate funds for labs, smart classrooms, and faculty development
Launch pilot projects in skill-based learning and internships
Explore tie-ups with industries to bridge the education-employment gap

Officials have also said that this will not be a one-time event. The dialogue process will continue in cycles, ensuring that student voices stay part of decision-making.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.