Himachal Pradesh University

About Himachal Pradesh University

Himachal University was incepted on 22 July 1970, having been elevated from a Regional Centre of Punjab University to the only affiliating and residential University of the State, it has today earned a name for itself in the educational fraternity of the world. Himachal University has 12 faculties, out of which 8 are campus-based, 29 teaching departments and some specialized teaching, research and training centres. There are as many as 185 conventional and professional colleges affiliated to or constituent of the University. These colleges are providing education in humanities, sciences, engineering, medical, dental, IT, management, commerce, education and law streams. The University took a bold step towards the proliferation of knowledge and democratization of education opportunities by setting up a Directorate of Correspondence Courses in 1971, becoming the first institution in North India to impart undergraduate and postgraduate education through distance education mode. Now rechristened as the international centre for distance education and open learning (ICDEOL), it is playing a pioneering role in meeting the demands of higher education at both national and international levels. The teaching departments have carried out specialized and socially responsive interdisciplinary research in areas of Bio-Technology, Ethno-Bio-Sciences, Industrial Chemistry, Tribal Studies, Special attention has been given to areas relating to the State’s economy and its resource base, hill development, demography and human geography.

For the award of Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and other academic distinctions in different branches of learning, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla hold examinations for the regular and private candidates of its affiliated colleges, teaching departments and International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL). For undergraduate ‘Regular’ and ‘Private’ students, examinations are held annually with a provision for supplementary examinations for ‘Compartment’ students. For the Post-graduate ‘Regular’ and ‘Private’ students who have to take these examinations in full subjects or in ‘Reappear’ subjects, the examinations are conducted under the semester system i.e. for I/III/V semester students in November/December and for II/IV/VI semester students in June/July every year and with a further concession of successive chances for "Re-appear" candidates consecutively.

Location and Transportation - The University is located at Summer-Hill, a suburb at the Western end of Shimla at a distance of 5 km. from the town, 5 minutes walk from the Summer-Hill Railway Station and about 15 Km. from the Jubber Hatti Airport

Departments / Faculty

1. Ayurveda
2. Commerce & Management
3. Dental Sciences
4. Education
5. Language
6. Law
7. Life Sciences
8. Medical Sciences
9. Performing & Visual Arts
10. Physical Sciences
11. Social Sciences
12. Computer Sciences
13. Bio-Technology
14. Journalism & Mass Communication

Facilities

Hostels - Himachal Pradesh University maintains Fourteen Hostels, seven for boys and seven for girls. These provide accommodation to about 900 boys and 633 girls. In all hostels, there are facilities of Common Room, T.V., Reading Room, Indoor games and Geysers. Each hostel has its own mess, which is run on a cooperative basis by the boarders. There is a student Perfect for every fifty residents and a Common Room Secretary from each hostel to manage the common room. All hostel affairs are managed by a committee consisting of the Chief Warden, Wardens and Students representatives.

Library - The University Library is housed in its own multi-storeyed building specially designed to house various functions of a modern University Library. The Library building has adequate space to accommodate more than 2 lacs of volumes in stace-hall, about 450 readers in reading halls and about 100 Research Scholars in Cubicles on Different floors. The basement on its completion will also provide space for a Museum, an Exhibition Room, bindery, Reprographics Unit and a Private Reading Room. The Library has been organised into different reader services viz Main Lending Section, Text Books Section, General Reference Section and a Periodical publications Section in the subject field of Humanities, Social Sciences & borderline disciplines and three Sectional Libraries in the subject fields of physical and Biological Sciences, Law and Education. Besides separate Maps, Dissertations and Thesis, careers and Courses, Bibliographies, Micro-documents and moral and Spiritual Studies are in the process of being set up.

Agro-Economic Research Centre - The Agro-Economic Research Centre (AERC) at the Himachal Pradesh University was established in December 1972 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India to carry out research and investigations in the field of Agricultural Economics in the Western Himalayan Region consisting of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. This is one of the 12 AER Centres established by the Government of India. For more details visit the AERC website: http://aercshimla.org/

CES - Centre of Environmental Studies was established in 1989 at the University, in accordance with the decision of the Environmental Protection Council (EPC), Govt. of Himachal Pradesh. The need for CES in the state and the university was felt so as to utilise the wide amplitude of bio wealth of the state from dry-scrub forests to alpine pastures with large number of exotic and endemic flora, a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic plants, diversity of wildlife and with 8% protected area network. The Centre aim to utilise the vast amount of accumulated knowledge of the people and expertise of the ecology group and of the other departments of the university collected over the years.

Evening College - The University Evening college, Shimla, was started in 1962 by the Panjab University on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission to cater to the educational needs of the employed persons. When the Haemocoel Produce University came into being on 22 July 1970, the college became a constituent of the new University under clause (8) of the Haemocoel Produce University Act. B.Com. was introduced in the College in 1975, M.A. in English and Hindi in 1979, and M.A. in Economics in 1990. H.P.University Evening College is housed in the historical `Kirk' (Gandhi Bhawan) and 'Manse' buildings situated between the General Post Office and the Central Telegraph Office. The College has a well-equipped open-stack library with over twenty-one thousand books.

IIHS - The Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies has been set up to create an integrated knowledge base and evolve strategies for the development of the Himalayan region and its people through research, academic courses of practical utility and service. Visit - http://www.himalayanstudies.com

IMS - Institute of Management Studies MBA programme prepares students for management and staff positions in regional, national, and international organizations. Co-curricular emphases are on ethical leadership, teamwork, creative problem solving, global perspectives, environmental concerns, and skilful applications of information technology. The institute has its own website www.imsshimla.org.

PRC - Population Research Centre was set up for the study of population, health and social welfare-related issues in the overall social and economic development of Himachal Pradesh. It has a team of 7 permanent researchers that includes its Hony. Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director, and 4 Research Investigators. In addition to these, it has 2 Fellows. There are four members of the supporting staff. The temporary ad-hoc staff is also hired for sponsored projects on a contact basis from a variety of academic backgrounds (e.g. Demography, Economics, Statistics, Sociology, Public Health, etc.), who have specialized experience in various subjects relating to population and health programmes.

Pre Examination Coaching Centre For SC/ST - The university runs a Pre Examination Coaching Centre for SC/ST students. This Centre was transferred from the Himachal Institute of Public Administration to H.P.University in 1993. During the last two years coaching in various courses namely PMT, PET, HAS and POs was organized. About 470 students have benefited from the said coaching. It is pertinent to mention here that between 1998 and 1999 as many as 25 students got admission to different Engineering Institutions and 20 students in Medical Colleges who were imparted coaching by the institute. Every year the Centre organizes pre-examination coaching in respect of CCS, HAS, Banking Services (POs), PMT and PET courses. The coaching has also been extended to the General Category students who are charged a nominal fee for each of the above-mentioned courses.

The Institute of Vocational Studies - The Institute provides a two-year post-graduate-degree course in Tourism Administration. Department of Tourism and Department of Science & Technology of Himachal Pradesh imparts practical experience to the students from time to time.

UGC-ASC - University Grants Commission Academic Staff College was established in June 1989 and conducted its First Orientation Programme in Sept. 1989. It has pursued the objective of improving the professional competence of teachers in tertiary education with a difference. By the end of March 2004, it had organized 202 programmes (68 orientation programmes and 134 refresher courses) about 6500 teachers have participated. For more details - www.ascshimla.org

ITS - The Tribal Studies offers a One-year Post-graduate Diploma in Tribal Studies that covers tribal History, Society, Economy and Culture with a focus on the Tribes and Tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh (since 1997-98). Under this programme every year 10 students are admitted. Every student besides appearing in the Theory paper also works on the Field Project dealing with some aspects of the life and society of the Tribes.

UTIs - University Institute of Information Technology admit students from all over the country to the Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology and imparts training to make them competent, motivated Engineers, Leader, Thinker, and Scientists. The academic program of UIIT is also approved by the All India Council of Technical education. For more Info - http://www.hpuiitshimla.org/index.html

ICDEOL - International Centre For Distance Education And Open Learning offers courses in Arts, Commerce, Diplomas etc.

Health Services - The University Health Centre housed in a spacious building in the heart of the H.P.University Campus is providing round the clock medical facilities to the students, employees and their dependents. The Paramedical Staff consists of 2 Pharmacists, 1 Staff Nurse, 1 Laboratory Technician, 1 Nurse (ANM). University Ambulance is available round the clock

Computer Centre - It is spread over an area of about 3000 sq. feet. It is equipped with the latest hardware like Compaq Servers and Pentium based nodes and the latest software. It offers computing facilities to students of dept. of computer science as well as to students of other departments. It provides consultancy to various departments as and when required.