Universities in Kerala
A university is an institution of higher education and research which grants academic degrees and doctrates in several academic disciplines. The main responsibilities of universities are affiliating colleges, conducting examinations and awarding academic certificates. UGC is the organization that gave recognition and accreditations to the Universities. There are a total of 14 state universities, two central universities and five deemed universities in Kerala. Of these, Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi, Calicut and Kannur are universities offering various courses of a general nature. The other universities were started based on specific fields of study. The National University of Advanced Legal Studies, established in 2005, is a self-financing university. Kerala Governor is the Chancellor of the Universities in Kerala and Education Minister of state government is the Pro-Chancellor. Senate is the Governing Body of the University.
University Grants Commission (UGC)
UGC is a statutory organization established by the central government in 1956. Universities and Colleges are under the control of UGC. It grants recognition to universities in the country, and spend finances to such known universities and colleges.
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
NAAC is a public autonomous body of the central government that assesses and accredits higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. It is funded by the UGC and headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
State Universities in Kerala
■ Kerala University
The University of Travancore, established in 1937, became the Kerala University in 1957. The university was founded by the Maharaja of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. He was also the first Chancellor of the university. Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, the Diwan of Travancore, was the first Vice-Chancellor and Sir Harold Papworth is the second Vice-Chancellor. It is the sixteenth university in India. Before the establishment of the University of Travancore, the colleges of Kerala were under the Madras University. The University of Travancore was established by merging ten colleges affiliated to the Madras University. With the formation of the state of Kerala, it was renamed the Kerala University in 1957. Initially, the university had three campuses in Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode. Now the jurisdiction of the university is Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and some parts of Pathanamthitta district. The headquarters of the university is at Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram. Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer is the first person received the D.Lit from Kerala University. Dr. John Mathai is the first Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University.
■ Mahatma Gandhi University
M.G. University came into existence on 2 October 1983. The first name was Gandhiji University. The name was changed to Mahatma Gandhi University in 1985. It is commonly known as M.G. University. Its headquarters are at Priyadarshini Hills in Athirampuzha, Kottayam district. The first woman Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University is Dr. Jancy James and she was also the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Kerala. University with the largest number of engineering colleges in Kerala is MG University.
■ Calicut University
Calicut University is headquartered in Thenjipalam, Malappuram district. It was established in 22 July 1968. It is the university in Kerala with the largest number of affiliated colleges. Calicut University has affiliated more than 400 colleges in Kerala. Prof. M.M. Gini is the first Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University. The first woman Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University is Dr. Anwar Jahan Suberi and she was also the second woman Vice-Chancellor of Kerala.
■ Kerala Agricultural University
Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established in 1971 with headquarters in Mannuthi near Thrissur. Governor is the Chancellor and Education Minister is the Pro-Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University. The institutes of Forestry, Horticulture, Agricultural Research Stations, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary are affiliated by the Kerala Agricultural University.
■ Cochin University of Science and Technology
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) came into existence in 1971. The bill to make Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) an affiliating university was passed in November 1986. Its headquarters are in Kalamassery, Ernakulam. Former Education Minister Prof. Joseph Mundassery was the first Vice-Chancellor.
■ Sree Shankaracharya Sanskrit University
Sree Shankaracharya Sanskrit University came into existence in 1993. The headquarters is at Kalady in Ernakulam district. The ordinance establishing the university was promulgated on November 29, 1993. The jurisdiction of the university is the entire state of Kerala. Former Chief Secretary R. Ramachandran Nair is the first Vice-Chancellor.
■ Kannur University
Kannur University, which came into existence in 1996, has jurisdiction over Kasaragod and Kannur districts and Mananthavady taluk of Wayanad district. The original name of Kannur University was Malabar University. The headquarters is at Mangattuparambu in Kannur district. The University with the fewest government colleges is Kannur.
■ Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS)
Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) is a state university established by the Kerala University of Health Sciences Act 2010, for ensuring proper and systematic instruction, teaching, training, and research of various academic programmes in medical and allied subjects in the state. The university is located in Thrissur, Kerala. The University is mandated to affiliate all colleges and institutions, imparting professional education in health care in Kerala. Governor of Kerala serves as the Chancellor of Kerala University of Health Sciences.
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University was established in 2010. The University is located at Pookode in Wayanad District. Governor is the Chancellor of University. The first Vice-Chancellor is Dr.B.Ashok. The College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Pookode and College of Dairy Science and Technology at Mannuthy are the colleges affliated by Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University.
■ Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies
The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) is an autonomous public funded state institution established on 2010 under an Act of the Kerala State Legislative Assembly by delinking the College of Fisheries from the Kerala Agriculture University. KUFOS is the first Fisheries University in the country. The headquarters of KUFOS is at Panangad, Kochi, Ernakulam. The University was established for the development of manpower and for ensuring proper and systematic instruction, teaching, training, and research of various academic programmes in fisheries and ocean sciences.
■ Thunchathezhuthachan Malayalam University
It came into existence on 1 November 2012. Former Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar is the first Vice-Chancellor. Its headquarters are in Tirur, Malappuram district.
■ APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU)
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) is a state public technological university headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It was established in 2014 and was named after the Indian aerospace scientist, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2015. APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University is an AICTE and UGC approved university that offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees in engineering, technology, and management-related streams. The jurisdiction of the university is the entire state of Kerala. Kerala Governor is the Chancellor of the University.
■ Sree Narayanaguru Open University (2020)
Sree Narayanaguru Open University is established in 2020. Sree Narayanaguru Open University (SGOU) is a state open university incorporated under the Sree Narayanaguru Open University Act, 2021. It is headquartered at Kollam, Kerala. It is the first open university in Kerala. It was approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2021. Governor of Kerala is the Chancellor of University. The aim of university is to unify all the distance education courses offered by various state universities of Kerala.
■ Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (2020)
Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology is the first digital university of kerala, established in 2020 by the Kerala Government. It is formed by upgrading the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Kerala. Its aim is to facilitate and promote studies, research, incubation and extension work in digital technologies and its application domains in Science, Engineering and Humanities. It is located at Technocity Campus, Thiruvananthapuram.
Central Universities in Kerala
■ National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS)
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), the first self-financing university in Kerala, came into existence in 2005. The Chancellor of NAULS is the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court and the Pro-Chancellor of NAULS is Minister of Education. Its headquarters are in Kalloor, Kochi.
■ Central University
Central University was established in 2009. It is incorporated under the Central Universities Act, 2009 Act for teaching and research by the Parliament of India. Its headquarters are in Periya near Kanhangad of Kasaragod District. They are conducting Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Ph.D programmes, The first Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kerala is Dr. Jancy James
Deemed Universities in Kerala
■ Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam was founded on 9 November 1930 by Mahakavi Vallathol and Manakulam Mukundaraja. The aim was to preserve and promote Kerala's audiovisual arts such as Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam, Thullal, Chakyar Koothu, and Panchavadyam. This institution is located in Cheruthuruthy on the banks of the Bharathapuzha, Thrissur. The most notable building in the Kalamandalam is the Koothambalam, built according to the Natyashastra system. It was taken over by the Kerala government in 1957 and converted into a grant-in-aided institution. In November 1962, the Kalamandalam was elevated to the Kerala Arts Academy. In 2007, the Kalamandalam became a deemed university. In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate classes, research related to various arts has also been started in the Kalamandalam. The Kalamandalam has also published books on classic arts.
■ Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is a deemed university for Space Science and Technology established in Thiruvananthapuram in 2007. IIST is the first space university in Asia. The mission of IIST is to conduct undergraduate, postgraduate courses and research studies in space science and space technology. IIST is located in Valiyamalai, Thiruvananthapuram.
■ National Institute of Technology
The National Institute of Technology is the first deemed university in the state. The institution, which came into existence in 1961 as a Regional Engineering College, was elevated to the status of NIT in 2003. Its headquarters are in Chathamangalam, Kozhikode district.
■ Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) is an autonomous public business school established in 1996 by the India Government in collaboration with the Kerala Government. The institute conducts academic programmes in the field of management education. It includes studies, research, teaching, consulting, training and intellectual infrastructure development.
■ Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeetham
Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth is the first deemed university in the 'de novo' category in Kerala. It is recognised by the UGC. It was Established in 2016 during the centenary year of Swami Chinmayananda. Its headquarters is at Veliyanad (near Piravom), Ernakulam District.
0 Comments