KOCHI: The thundering echo of feet on drill, the bugle call, and the high-pitched drill commands are not the sole sounds reverberating on the Kerala Police Academy (KPA) campus at Thrissur these days.
Its otherwise empty corridors are now resonating with the guarded whisper of teenagers moving in small groups, thanks to an internship programme offered by the institution.
The one-month programme, initiated by KPA as part of developing institutional interaction with institutions across the country, appears to have become a huge draw among college students. As many as 70 students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, have so far completed internship at KPA ever since its introduction four months ago. “An average of 20 students have been pursuing internship here at any given point of time since its inception,” said K. Padmakumar, Additional Director General of Police and Director of the Training School.
With the programme, the academy aims to eventually develop itself as a centre of excellence by imparting knowledge and orientation in various subjects.
Those pursuing internship here include students of subjects as diverse as engineering to cyber technology and forensic sciences to law. The interns are awarded certificates on completion of the programme.
“To complete the programme, students have to give a presentation on their respective areas of study, which will be approved through the ‘defence and challenge’ method. Once approved, the material becomes the property of the academy,” the ADGP added.
According Jayesh K. Joseph, criminologist and convenor of the student internship programme at KPA, the programme envisages utilising the expertise of youngsters to improve the police training programme.
“For instance, a group of law students here have been assigned to prepare law-related training material, while another team of forensic students have been tasked to help deploy forensic technology in crime investigation,” Mr. Joseph explained.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students in the second or final year who have secured 50% marks or equivalent in the previous examination can apply for the programme.
Those interested can download the application form from the academy’s official website www.keralapoliceacademy.gov.in and mail it to the director.