Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is exploring the possibility of setting up a cooperative university in the state. As per provisions in the Private Universities Bill, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies has been directed to prepare a proposal for this initiative. The objective is to bring all educational institutions in the cooperative sector under a single umbrella.

At the national level, the Central Government has already decided to establish a cooperative university. The Gujarat-based Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) is set to be converted into a cooperative university. The proposed central cooperative university will have the authority to establish colleges in various states, both directly and through affiliations. In addition, there are plans to bring cooperative training centres across the country under its jurisdiction. These developments have raised concerns in Kerala.

In Kerala, there are currently 13 cooperative training colleges and 16 training divisions operating under the state’s Cooperative Union. Furthermore, the Cooperative Academy for Professional Education (CAPE) manages engineering colleges. There are also nursing colleges, cooperative colleges and the Agricultural Cooperative Staff Training Institute. The state government's plan is to consolidate these institutions under a single university.

If this does not materialise, cooperative training may have to be brought under the central cooperative university, or the number of study centres affiliated with it may increase within the state.

Earlier, CAPE had drafted a proposal for setting up a cooperative university in Kerala. However, it was shelved due to the high costs involved in developing the necessary infrastructure.

The new Bill states that a private multi-campus university can be established if it has a headquarters on at least 10 acres of land. If CAPE and the Cooperative Union can provide such a facility, the creation of a cooperative university in Kerala could become a reality.