University of Kerala
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കേരള സർവ്വകലാശാല | |
Former name | University of Travancore |
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Motto | Karmani Vyajyate Pradnya |
Motto in English | Wisdom manifests itself in action |
Type | Public |
Established | 1937 |
Founder | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma |
Affiliation | UGC, NAAAC, AIU, ACU |
Chancellor | Governor Of Kerala |
Vice-Chancellor | Dr V. P. Mahadevan Pillai[1] |
Location | Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala , India 8°30′12″N 76°56′50″E / 8.50333°N 76.94722°ECoordinates: 8°30′12″N 76°56′50″E / 8.50333°N 76.94722°E |
Campus | Urban |
Sports | football |
Website | www |
University of Kerala, formerly the University of Travancore, is a collegiate public state university located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma who was also the first Chancellor of the University. Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, the then Diwan (Prime minister) of the State was the first Vice-Chancellor.
History[]
This section does not cite any sources. (October 2017) |
One of the first 16 Universities in India and the first in the state of Kerala, the University of Kerala was founded as the University of Travancore in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore (now southern part of Kerala and some neighboring parts of state of Tamil Nadu) in 1937. During the 7 decades since the University of Kerala grew and shrunk physically and transformed itself in many ways.
The earliest origins of the University may be traced back to two institutions of modern learning in Kerala, the University College, Thiruvananthapuram and the Trivandrum Observatory. The University College was initially founded as the Maharaja's Free School by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal in 1834, with Mr John Roberts. A Christian Missionary as Headmaster, and soon grew into a college in 1866, affiliated to the Madras University. When the University of Travancore was founded, the Departments of the college became the University Departments, only to switch back again when the transformation to University of Kerala happened in 1957. The University College still retains its connection with the University as an affiliated college. The Trivandrum Observatory was founded in 1838 and had an internationally reputed scientist, John Caldecott FRS as its first Director. It became a part of the Travancore University, but for some time was administered as an independent government institution. It is now the oldest institution under the Kerala University.
The University of Travancore was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma who was also the first Chancellor of the University. Sir C. P Ramaswamy Ayyar, the then Diwan (Prime minister) of the State was the first Vice-Chancellor.
Only ten colleges within the State of Travancore, which were at that time affiliated to the Madras University, became the affiliated colleges of the University of Travancore. In 1954, the unified state of Kerala came into being with most of Travancore and whole of state of Cochin and Malabar area of Madras presidency becoming part of it. The Kerala University Act (Act 14 of 1957) was brought into force and the University of Travancore was renamed University of Kerala. The University had three campuses located in three different parts of the State viz. Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The number of affiliated colleges grew phenomenally. However, in 1968, the University Centre at Kozhikode became a full-fledged University, the University of Calicut, affiliating the colleges located in Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts of Kerala and transforming the Kozhikkode Centre into University Departments. The Cochin University of Science and Technology - CUSAT -(1971), Kerala Agricultural University (1971) and Mahatma Gandhi University (1983) were subsequently established, with CUSAT taking over the University's centre at Cochin. These developments have shrunk the jurisdiction of the University of Kerala to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha Districts and some parts of Pathanamthitta District.
Organisation and administration[]
Governance[]
The Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellor, the Vice- Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and the members of the Senate, the Syndicate and the Academic Council constitutes the governing body of the university. The Governor of Kerala is the Chancellor of the university while Education Minister of Kerala is the Pro-Chancellor of the university.[2]
Departments[]
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At present, the University has sixteen faculties and forty one departments of teaching and research in addition to study centres and other departments. Teaching, Research and Knowledge extension are the mandate of the Departments. They primarily focus on post-graduate (masters) programmes, MPhil programmes (1-year research degree) and doctoral research. In 2007, the University awarded over 100 PhDs. (University's research activities are also going on in select affiliated colleges and other recognised research centres in and outside the state). The University has had in its faculties eminent scholars who were trained under legendary figures (Sir C V Raman's student in Dept of Physics, Prof S R Ranganathan's student in Library Science and Prof Benjamin Bloom's student in Dept of Education). Some of the faculty members themselves were legends, such as famous poet K Ayyappa Panciker, Oriental scholar T Ganapathi Sasthri etc.
Study centres[]
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The University has also a number of study centres in specialised areas such as Nano-technology, Kerala Studies, Bioinformatics, Women's Studies, Learning Difficulties, Sree Narayana Studies, Gandhian Studies etc. Some of these centres have taught programmes (Certificate/Diploma/Masters/Mphil) and many offer PhD programmes. The University has also established 10 University College of Teacher Education (UTEC) and 8 University Institute of Technologies (UIT) both of which offer under-graduate programmes (BEd in UTECs and BSc Computer Science/IT, Electronics/BBA in UITs), although masters programmes are available in select UITs. The University College of Engineering at Karyavattom offers Engineering Education at Undergraduate level.
Affiliated colleges[]
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The University has over 150 affiliated colleges. The role of the University is in prescribing courses of study and conducting examinations and issuing certificates. The day-to-day administration of these institutions is not under the purview of the University. However, these institutions form a major part of the University. Of these 60 are Arts and Science colleges. There are 2 Law colleges, 17 Engineering Colleges, 9 MBA/MCA Colleges, 37 Teacher Training Colleges, 4 Medical Colleges, 4 Ayurveda colleges, 2 Homeopathy Colleges, one Siddha Medical College, 3 Dental colleges, 10 Nursing Colleges, 4 Pharmacy Colleges, 2 Fine Arts Colleges, and a Music College. The University also has a National College of Physical Education affiliated to it. The total number of students in these colleges crosses 84,000.
Rankings[]
University rankings | |
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General – international | |
Times (World) (2020)[3] | 1001+ |
General – India | |
NIRF (Overall) (2020)[4] | 42 |
NIRF (Universities) (2020)[5] | 23 |
University of Kerala was ranked 1001+ in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2020.[3] It was ranked 42nd in India overall by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2020[4] and 23rd among universities.[5]
Notable alumni[]
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Notable alumni includes 10th President of India K. R. Narayanan, geneticist M. S. Swaminathan, ISRO former Chairman G. Madhavan Nair, INSA scientist Perdur Radhakantha Adiga, former Supreme Court judges, Justice Kurian Joseph, Justice Fathima Beevi, legal luminary N. R. Madhava Menon, Indian film actor Mohanlal, Malayalam poets O. N. V. Kurup, Sugathakumari, historian M. G. S. Narayanan, cricketer Sanju Samson and many other eminent personalities.
10th President of India, K. R. Narayanan
Father of Green Revolution, M. S. Swaminathan
ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair with A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Father of Modern Indian Legal Education, N. R. Madhava Menon
Indian film actor, Mohanlal
Others[]
- Jacob Abraham
- S. Suresh Babu
- M. A. Baby
- Veliyam Bharghavan
- Tiffany Brar
- Sathyabhama Das Biju
- G. Devarajan
- C. Divakaran
- Sanal Edamaruku
- Salim Gangadharan
- P. K. Gurudasan
- Thirunalloor Karunakaran
- O. Madhavan
- V. Madhusoodanan Nair
- Lopamudra R
- S. K. Satheesh
- T. N. Seema
- S. D. Shibulal
- M. S. Valiathan
- Mary Verghese
- D. Vinayachandran
- Rajashree Warrier
See also[]
- Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
- University College of Engineering, Kariavattom
References[]
- ^ "Vice Chancellor". www.keralauniversity.ac.in. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Kerala University Act 1974" (PDF).
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Top 1000 World University Rankings 2020". Times Higher Education. 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2020 (Overall)". National Institutional Ranking Framework. Ministry of Education. 11 June 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2020 (Universities)". National Institutional Ranking Framework. Ministry of Education. 11 June 2020.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Kerala. |
- University of Kerala
- Kingdom of Travancore
- Universities in Thiruvananthapuram
- Educational institutions established in 1937
- Public universities
- 1937 establishments in India
- Universities in Kerala