Tamil Nadu’s higher education department will train 150 professors and heads of departments from state universities and government colleges to improve campus placements through stronger industry links, curriculum feedback and student job-preparation measures.
The first phase of the training will be held on November 24 and 25. Professors and HoDs from 13 state universities, government engineering colleges and government autonomous arts and science colleges will participate, with five professors from each institution undergoing two days of hands-on training by industry experts.
The initiative comes as campus placement rates remain between 60% and 70% even at some of the state’s leading colleges, according to the report. The department plans to involve faculty members more directly in understanding employer requirements and preparing students for recruitment during their courses.
Higher education secretary Dheeraj Kumar said the department was focusing on final-year student preparation as well as longer-term skills development. Measures will include helping students prepare curriculum vitae, conducting mock interviews and aptitude tests, and improving skills linked to job prospects.
The department has also asked heads of departments to establish links with three to four industries connected to their degree programmes. These partnerships are expected to provide feedback on curriculum requirements and create opportunities for internships, industry-related projects and placements.
HoDs have additionally been asked to identify six skills relevant to each degree programme. The plan is intended to make academic programmes more responsive to employer expectations, while giving students exposure to workplace requirements before they graduate.
M P Vijayakumar, vice-chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, said the initial training would cover faculty members from the 13 participating institutions. He said the programme would be revised in subsequent phases based on feedback from the first batch.
The placement initiative is also being considered at Anna University, where electronics and communication engineering has been selected as an example for bringing more core industries into the recruitment process. V Kumaresan, the university’s registrar in-charge, said the institution was targeting placements for 95% of students in the department.
Anna University has placed around 25% of its eligible students so far this year, according to the report. The figure is similar to the previous year’s position at the same stage. In the 2025-26 academic year, the university placed 72% of its total eligible undergraduate students.
The state’s approach places faculty-led industry engagement at the centre of its placement strategy. The next formal milestone will be the two-day training programme on November 24 and 25, after which the government plans to use participant feedback to shape subsequent phases.
