University of Kerala

About University of Kerala

The University of Kerala was established in 1937 by a proclamation of the Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma who was also the first Chancellor of the University. Sir C. P Ramaswamy Ayyar, the then Diwan of the State, was the first Vice-Chancellor. It was the sixteenth University to be set up in India and ten Colleges within the State of Travancore which were affiliated to the Madras University became the affiliated colleges of the University of Travancore. In 1957, the Kerala University Act, Act 14 of 1957, was brought into force and the University of Travancore was renamed University of Kerala. The area of the jurisdiction of the University of Kerala includes Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha Districts and some parts of Pathanamthitta District. There are 41 departments of teaching and research and 157 colleges are affiliated to the university. The University’s Engineering College in Kariavattom campus offers courses like Information Technology, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication etc. The University Departments offer a wide range of teaching and research at post-graduate, M.Phil. and Ph.D. levels. The courses in the Departments are conducted in the Credit and Semester System . The University has also extended the Semester System to all the Post Graduate courses from 2001. At present, about 32 colleges offer post graduate teaching programmes.

The University’s colleges of Teacher Education (launched in 1990-91), offer B.Ed. with an intake of 180 students in each of the ten centres. The eight University Institutes of Technology offer courses like Computer Science, Electronics, Business Administration etc., Two centres conduct M. Sc. Computer Science and one UIT offers MBA. The Institute of Distance Education caters to the needs of thousands who wish to enroll for different courses. In addition to the traditional degree and post - graduate courses, the Institute now runs degree courses like Computer Science and Computer Application

The University also has several centres for studies and research in special areas like V.K. Krishna Menon Study Centre, Christian Study Centre for Cultural and Social Change. It has also been decided to start an Ambedkar Study Centre. The Academic Staff College set up with UGC aid, offers orientation and refresher courses to the teachers in affiliated colleges. It has been rated as the best in the country. The Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library, which has an invaluable collection of rare and precious manuscripts, has been made the State Nodal Agency for the preservation and documentation of manuscripts. A Digital Heritage Archiving Centre also functions in the Library. University Study Centres have been set up with UGC assistance, at Kollam, Alappuzha and Pandalam. These Centres cater to the needs of the students outside Thiruvananthapuram. Besides these, there are 13 Taluk Information Centres. The University also supplies information to students through the Helpdesks in affiliated colleges.

Some Centres of University

1. International Centre for Kerala Studies
2. Sree Narayana Centre for Social Change
3. Centre for Comparative Literature
4. Survey Research Centre
5. Centre for Gandhian Studies
6. Centre for Australian Studies
7. Centre for English Language Teaching
8. Centre for Canadian Studies
9. Centre for Women's Studies
10. Centre for Vedanta Studies
11. Population Research Centre
12. Centre for Adult Continuing Education & Extension (CACEE)
13. University Observatory
14. University Service and Instrumentation Centre (USIC)
15. University Health Centre, Kariavattom
16. Centre for Teaching Education
17. University Institutes of Technology
18. University Employment Information and Guidance Bureau
19. University Health Centre

Location - The main campus of University of Kerala is situated in the capital of the state, Thiruvananthapuram. Campus at Kariavattom. Majority of the departments of teaching and research are located in this campus.

Transportation - Kerala is well connected to all the major cities in India with excellent road and railway systems. It has three airports viz Kozhikode International Airport at Karipur in Kozhikode (at the northern Kerala), Cochin International Airport at Nedumbaserry, Kochi (at the central Kerala) and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Reaching the Kerala University (Administrative)Campus - Road & Rail: About 3 km from Thampanoor where the Central Bus Station (KSRTC bus stand) and Railway Central Station are located. The Kariavattom campus is 18 km from the city. To reach there, one has to board a bus that goes to Attingal or Kollam.

Air: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is about 7 km from the campus.

Buses in Thiruvananthapuram: Long distances buses operate from the Central Bus Station (KSRTC bus stand) at Thampanoor, opposite Railway Station. Short distance buses operate from the City Bus Stand, East Fort.

Travelling tips - Taxi charges: A minimum of Rs. 70 plus Rs. 5 per running km for Non A/C taxis and Rs. 8 per running kilometre for A/C taxis. Autorikshaws are cheaper: A minimum of Rs. 6 plus Rs. 3 per every running kilometre.

Faculty

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Ayurveda
• Faculty of Commerce
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Engineering & Technology
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Management Studies
• Faculty of Oriental Studies
• Faculty of Physical Education
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Homoeopathy
• Faculty of Applied Sciences
• Faculty of Dentistry

Facilities

Kerala University Library - It has over 3 lakh books and over 1000 bound volumes of Journals. The library subscribes to 43 foreign Journals, over 400 Indian periodicals, 35 popular magazines and 20 Newspapers. The total number of membership of the library is over 30, 800 out of which student memberships comes to over 12, 270 and that of teachers comes to 2850. The library has now installed computer system for a LAN & CD-ROM network. A microfilm reader printer and a rare collection of journals in microfilm are available here. The Library has CD-ROM on many subjects. Internet facility is offered at slashed rates. OPAC facility also available.

Private registration - It is permissible for the B.A., B.Com Degree Examinations and Music B.A (Annual). Private registration is not granted in (1) Psychology (2) Tourism and Hotelier. Private Registration is granted only in courses for which Annual Examination are conducted.

Kerala University Computer Centre - The centre meticulously follows the principles of business process redesign as a prerequisite of IT enabling. The centre has repositioned itself as a software development centre catering to the needs of the higher education sector of the nation. University computer centre is located near the administration block in the Palayam campus of the University.

Consultancy Services - The University of Kerala now offers consultancy services at national and international levels through its different departments. The University Consultancy Cell with the Vice-Chancellor as chairman, co-ordinates this activity. The Cell has already started consultancy work related to product and technology transfer and patent protection.

University Health Centre - It has two basic objectives, viz. provision of comprehensive and modem health care to students of the Kerala University and dissemination of health education and sufficient practical information with a view to generating in them keen health consciousness.

Admission Of Foreign Students - The candidates seeking admission shall have the required basic equivalent qualification from a University / Institution which is approved by the UGC or the Association of Commonwealth Universities or such other accredited Institutions of higher learning.

Guest Students - The candidates who want to join as guest students shall indicate the subjects to be attended and the duration of classes required for each subject. The guest students will not be permitted to take the regular University Examinations or be issued any certificates other than Attendance Certificate, if required.

Achievements

1. The University of Kerala has the honour of being the first University in India to ensure participation of students in the University Syndicate. The Academic Council and the Senate also have student members.
2. Another significant development is the starting of several short term courses like TV News reading, Functional English, etc. in the Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Extension. This has enabled the University to realise the dream of ‘further education of the educated’. The CACEE received the UNESCO- NLM award for literacy in 2005.
3. The University of Kerala has widened its horizons by entering into academic cooperation with some foreign Universities like Valladolid of Spain and Claremont of the United States of America.
4. The UGC has identified the University as one of the 26 institutions selected for promotion of India Studies by foreign students. The National Assessment and Accreditation Committee has placed the University at the B++ grade.