Internship Kerala 1.0 to connect 1 lakh FYUGP students with internship opportunities

Keltron has been roped in by the Higher Education department to develop a State-level internship portal, ‘Internship Kerala 1.0’, for students enrolled in four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP).

The initiative will mark the first time an elaborate portal, envisaged to cater to 1 lakh students, is being launched to facilitate internships in Kerala.

The decision to enlist public sector undertaking (PSU) is based on a proposal by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), which is tasked with identifying and empanelling agencies to establish Centres for Skill Development Courses and Career Planning (CSDCCP), envisaged to operate as skill development centres in all higher education institutions.

Keltron, among other agencies, had already been enlisted to impart skill courses through the centres. Building on this collaboration, the State-owned company recently submitted a proposal to extend the utility of its developed portal to all FYUGP students.

The portal is being designed for internships mandated in the curriculum during the fourth semester. It will serve as a crucial link between three key stakeholders: students, higher education institutions and industries.

Multiple options

Once inaugurated, ‘Internship Kerala 1.0’ will be accessible to all higher education institutions and students. Registered students will have the flexibility to choose from a multitude of internship options, aligning with their knowledge domains and preferences. The platform is expected to offer a diverse range of opportunities, categorised into free internships, internships with a stipend and paid internships.

Keltron has been instructed that priority be given to internship opportunities within PSUs.

KSHEC member secretary Rajan Varughese said the initiative is intended to exploit the untapped potential of PSUs in providing hands-on training to students and enhancing their employability. The involvement of public institutions is also aimed at bringing down internship expenses for students.

He added that the universities have already forged partnerships with various public-sector skill enhancement agencies to operationalise the CSDCCPs.

KSHEC has empanelled ASAP Kerala, Keltron, Institute of Human Resources Development, ICT Academy of Kerala, Centre for Continuing Education Kerala, Kerala State Centre for Advanced Printing and Training, and LBS Centre for the purpose. (EOM)

Published - June 10, 2025 07:48 pm IST