The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) has successfully introduced a range of new-age, employment-oriented degree courses through the third phase of the Degree Online Services Telangana (DOST) admissions process. The courses will be offered from the current academic year in degree colleges affiliated with 11 universities across the state. With growing demand for skill-based education, several colleges have reduced seats in traditional low-demand courses and opted to introduce the new programs.
The initiative faced several hurdles before its implementation. The Higher Education Council spent nearly a year preparing the curriculum with the support of expert committees and a budget of ₹25 lakh. Although universities initially approved the courses, opposition reportedly emerged from private engineering college managements, which raised concerns over similarities between some of the new degree programs and engineering disciplines. As a result, the courses were not included in the first two phases of DOST counselling.
The issue was later taken up by TSCHE Chairman Prof. Balakista Reddy, who reportedly brought it to the attention of the Chief Minister’s Office. Following the intervention, legal and administrative obstacles were cleared, paving the way for the inclusion of the courses in the third phase of counselling. Officials said the move was aimed at expanding employment opportunities and equipping students with industry-relevant skills.
The response from students has been encouraging, with a large number of applicants opting for the newly introduced courses. Students from both urban and rural areas have shown particular interest in programs related to computer science, cybersecurity, finance, and digital technologies. Several candidates who secured seats in earlier counselling phases are also seeking internal sliding and college transfers to join these programs.
The new courses include B.Com programs in Finance Technology, International Banking and Finance, and Digital Marketing under Osmania University. Colleges affiliated with Kakatiya University, Palamuru University, Satavahana University, and Telangana University will offer BA programs in Defence and Security Studies and Cyber Governance. Advanced B.Sc. courses in Digital Forensics Science and Cyber Security have also been introduced. The Higher Education Council plans to establish a monitoring committee to oversee infrastructure, faculty standards, and course quality to ensure graduates are equipped for emerging industry requirements.