The department advises the government on matters dealing with higher education.
[1] The department plans, implements and monitors activities in the field of technical education consistent with state and national policies.
It conducts Master of Technology/Master of Planning, Bachelor of Technology/Bachelor of Architecture, MFA, BFA, Diploma and Certificate Courses through engineering colleges, polytechnics, technical high schools, commercial institutes, arts colleges, tailoring and garment making training centers and vocational training centers.
The department periodically evaluates and revises the syllabus for Diploma and Certificate programmes.
A result analysis of engineering colleges conducted by the Department of Technical Education[2] and universities of Kerala, under the direction of Hon High Court of Kerala in 2012.