Hyderabad: With the IT sector witnessing a slowdown, Telangana is planning to introduce a range of innovative, job-oriented courses such as maritime technology, air traffic management, and defence and security from the academic year 2026–27.The courses will be offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in BA and BBA programmes, as well as MA and MBA, across degree and PG colleges in the state.“We are going to introduce several unique and innovative courses that have strong employment potential in emerging sectors,” said V Balakista Reddy, chairman of the Telangana Council of Higher Education.Proposed programmes include BBA maritime technology, maritime commerce, maritime management, BBA airport, airspace and air traffic management, BA land, agriculture and rural development, and BA defence and security, among others.To finalise the framework, the council will hold a large online consultation with nearly 5,000 stakeholders on Tuesday to gather feedback before rolling out the courses in the upcoming academic year.Officials said the courses will emphasise both theoretical learning and practical exposure. Internships will be made mandatory, with colleges required to collaborate with relevant industries so that students gain hands-on experience while studying.“Institutions offering these courses must tie up with industry partners to ensure internships and placement support for students. The aim is to create skilled human resources in sectors that currently face a shortage of trained professionals,” Balakista Reddy said. He added that the council would provide learning material and facilitate resource persons for the programmes.However, college managements have urged the council to ensure a long-term roadmap so that newly introduced courses continue smoothly even after changes in leadership at the council or university level.“Several courses introduced in the past failed to take off due to lack of continuity once officials’ tenures ended,” said B Suryanarayana Reddy, president of the Telangana Private Degree and PG Colleges Management Association.He pointed out that institutions are currently struggling to secure internships for final-year BA logistics students. Similarly, courses such as BSc data science and biotechnology, which initially saw high demand, now have limited takers.Managements welcomed the introduction of new programmes but stressed that sustained policy support and clear academic pathways are essential to maintain student interest and ensure meaningful career opportunities.
