The Department of Higher Education is one of the departments of Government of Tamil Nadu. Established in 1997, the department is responsible for formulating policies and regulations for higher education in the state.
The Directorate of Technical Education was established on 14 October 1957. The higher education department was formed in 1997, after bifurcation from the combined education, science and technology department.
The department is responsible for formulating policies, laws, regulations and programmes for higher education in the state.
, there are 56 universities in the state including 24 public universities. University of Madras was founded in 1857 and is one of India's first modern universities. There are more than 510 engineering colleges in the state including 34 government colleges with the government-run College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University founded in 1794 is the oldest engineering college in India. There are also 496 polytechnic institutions with 92 government colleges and 935 arts and science colleges in the state including 302 government run colleges.
The following sub-departments and undertakings operate under the department: