Department of Higher Education (Tamil Nadu)

The Department of Higher Education is one of the departments of Government of Tamil Nadu. Established in 1997, the department is responsible for formulating policies and regulations for higher education in the state.

Department of Higher Education (Tamil Nadu)
Agency overview
Formed1997; 27 years ago (1997)
JurisdictionTamil Nadu
HeadquartersChennai
Minister responsible
  • akshay, Minister for Higher Education Department
Agency executive
  • A. Karthik, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government
Parent agencyGovernment of Tamil Nadu
WebsiteHigher Education Department

History edit

The Directorate of Technical Education was established on 14 October 1957. The higher education department was formed in 1997, after bifurcation from the combined education, science and technology department.[1]

Objective edit

The department is responsible for formulating policies, laws, regulations and programmes for higher education in the state.[2]

Infrastructure edit

As of 2023, there are 56 universities in the state including 24 public universities.[3] University of Madras was founded in 1857 and is one of India's first modern universities.[4] There are more than 510 engineering colleges in the state including 34 government colleges with the government-run College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University founded in 1794 is the oldest engineering college in India.[5][6][7] There are also 496 polytechnic institutions with 92 government colleges and 935 arts and science colleges in the state including 302 government run colleges.[5][8]

Sub–departments edit

The following sub-departments and undertakings operate under the department:[9]

Sub-departments
  • Directorate of Collegiate Education (TNDCE)
  • Directorate of Technical Education (TNDTE)
  • Department of Archives and Historical Research
Undertakings and bodies
  • Science City Chennai
  • Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Center (TNSTC)
  • Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TANSCST)
  • Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE)
  • Tamil Nadu State Council for Technical Education (TANSCTE)
  • Tamil Nadu State Urdu Academy

Ministers edit

Ministers of Education (Tamilnadu) (till 2006)
Name Portrait Term of office
C. Aranganayagam 30 June 1977 17 February 1980
C. Aranganayagam 9 June 1980 9 February 1985
C. Ponnaiyan 10 February 1985 30 January 1988
K. Anbazhagan   27 January 1989 30 January 1991
R. M. Veerappan 24 June 1991 12 May 1996
K. Anbazhagan   13 May 1996 13 May 2001
M. Thambidurai   14 May 2001 1 March 2002
C. V. Shanmugam 2 March 2002 12 May 2006
Ministers of Higher Education (Tamilnadu) (from 2006)
K. Ponmudy 13 May 2006 15 May 2011
P. Palaniappan 16 May 2011 22 May 2016
K. P. Anbalagan 23 May 2016 6 May 2021
K. Ponmudy 7 May 2021 21 December 2023
Raja Kannappan 21 December 2023 Incumbent

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Department handbook (PDF). tn.gov.in (Report). Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Higher education department". Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Universities in Tamil Nadu". AUBSP. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. ^ "A brief history of the modern Indian university". Times Higher Education. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b Higher education policy report 2023-24 (PDF) (Report). Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Tamil Nadu: Over 200 engineering colleges fill just 10% seats; 37 get zero admission". The Times of India. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Some colleges, schools in Chennai oldest in country". The Hindu. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  8. ^ AICTE Approved Institutions in Tamil Nadu (PDF) (Report). All India Council for Technical Education. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ^ Sub-departments under the Higher Education Department (PDF). tn.gov.in (Report). Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 1 December 2012.

External links edit