CAS Vadakkencherry is about to become one of the more interesting places to watch in Kerala's applied science education space. The college, formally known as CAS Vadakkencherry (College of Applied Science, Vadakkencherry), is launching an "Industry on Campus" unit as part of the Kerala state government's hundred-day action program under IHRD.
The idea is simple to explain but not something you see at every IHRD-affiliated institution in Kerala: students work in production units set up right on campus, building actual hardware and software for outside companies, and the income generated gets routed back to the students doing the work. Instead of choosing between attending classes and taking up a part-time job elsewhere, students get a way to do both without leaving campus.
What's Actually Being Built
Two projects are already underway, together valued at around ₹2 crore.
The first is a solar panel inverter unit. Students working here will be building inverters meant for supply to various institutions, giving them hands-on experience with hardware that has real commercial demand rather than a classroom simulation of one.
The second is a software development unit focused on building AI agents for client organizations. For students studying computer applications or related fields, this is a chance to work on production-grade software instead of only assignment-driven projects.
IHRD Director M.V. Rajesh visited the campus to review infrastructure readiness and ongoing development work at both units. Student selection for the two units will happen based on the specific requirements of each project, so not everyone will be picked at once. It sounds like the college plans to scale this depending on how the pilot units perform.
Why This Matters If You're Considering CAS Vadakkencherry
If you're researching colleges in Palakkad for an applied science degree, this kind of scheme is worth factoring into your decision. A lot of colleges promise "industry exposure" in their brochures, but very few actually put production units on campus and pay students from the revenue those units generate. This is IHRD and the college putting money and infrastructure behind that promise rather than just printing it in a prospectus.
For students already at CAS Vadakkencherry, this is also a concrete answer to a question a lot of first-years ask: how do I make some money without falling behind academically? The Industry on Campus units are designed around exactly that problem, and since they're on campus, there's no commute or scheduling conflict with your regular classes.
It's early days for the scheme, so specifics like pay structure and exact selection criteria for students will likely become clearer as the units get fully operational. We'll follow up with more details as they're announced.
CAS Vadakkencherry is an IHRD-affiliated applied science college in Palakkad, Kerala, offering degree programs designed around practical, industry-relevant skills.