The rollout of mandatory internships under Kerala’s newly introduced Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) has sparked growing concern among students, educators and university officials, who warn that what was intended as structured industry exposure is rapidly turning into a financial burden and exploitive system. Originally envisioned to bridge academic learning with practical industry experience, the internships are now drawing criticism for being largely fee-based rather than skill-oriented learning opportunities.
Central to the controversy is the ‘Internship Kerala’ portal, launched by the state government’s higher education department to centralise internship placements for students enrolled under FYUGP. While the platform advertises connections with approved firms and industry partners, many of these listed companies are small private firms that charge students high fees — sometimes up to ₹10,000 — in exchange for internship placements. Students say this effectively transforms internships into a “pay-to-learn” model, placing a heavy financial strain on those from middle- and low-income families.
Students from arts and science backgrounds have reported particular difficulty in finding relevant internships aligned with their academic fields, with limited opportunities that offer meaningful exposure without charging exorbitant fees. Many students have described the system as unaffordable and poorly regulated, given the absence of clear guidelines on how internships are selected, vetted or credited toward degree requirements.
University faculty and officials have also voiced frustration, noting that the rushed implementation of the programme has led to confusion at academic institutions. Some have resorted to alternative arrangements, such as listing students as volunteers in cultural or educational organisations, just to ensure they receive academic credits, raising questions about the quality and legitimacy of experiential learning under the current scheme.
Critics have described the situation as a form of institutionalised financial exploitation, where internships meant to boost employability instead become an additional financial hurdle for students. There are calls for more transparent accreditation standards, robust vetting of internship providers, and an emphasis on stipend-based or unpaid but quality internships to ensure equitable access and genuine skill development opportunities.
Officials have acknowledged gaps in the current system and say discussions are underway to fix these issues, including exploring ways to bring public sector units (PSUs) onto the platform and expand opportunities that do not impose fees on students.
