Calicut University reviews plans for internship portal amid student fee complaints
The University of Calicut is examining technical options for an internship portal intended to help four-year undergraduate students register for placements. The proposed system follows complaints about limited opportunities and allegations that some companies charge students for internships. University officials say financial exploitation cannot be allowed.
The University of Calicut is reviewing technical options for launching an internship portal for students enrolled in four-year undergraduate programmes, as concerns grow over access to placements and alleged charges imposed on students. The university’s course monitoring committee had earlier decided to establish the portal so students from the 2024 and 2025 batches could register for internships. An expression of interest was invited from companies in May to develop the system.
A technical committee involving experts from the National Institute of Technology-Calicut subsequently selected two companies that could be engaged for the project in July, according to sources. However, the university has not yet taken a final decision on the launch. Sources close to Vice-Chancellor P.
Raveendran’s office said technical issues were being examined. The Vice-Chancellor is reported to have taken the view that students should not be financially exploited in the name of internship opportunities. Student organisations, including the Kerala Students Union, have alleged that some companies charge between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000 for internships.
Students have also complained that they cannot find enough opportunities to complete the required hours in companies and industrial units. Under existing regulations, BBA and BCA students must complete 120 hours of internship, earning four credit points each in the third and fourth years. Students in other programmes must complete 60 hours for two credit points.
Internships are to be completed during the April-May vacation before the fifth semester. Students may generally intern only with companies that are at least 10 years old or at colleges other than their own. However, the university allowed students to intern at their own colleges during the 2025-26 academic year after reports of financial exploitation and difficulties travelling to distant locations during the summer.
The proposed portal is intended to address registration and access issues, but its timetable remains unsettled.
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