Andhra University - AU

About Andhra University - AU

Andhra University is not just one of the oldest educational institutions in the country, but is also the first to be conceived as a residential and teaching-cum-affiliating University, mainly devoted to post-graduate teaching and research. It came into being after a prolonged and collective struggle of the Telugu elite for a University in the educationally backward northern Circars and Ceded districts of the erstwhile Madras Presidency. Andhra University was constituted by the Madras Act of 1926. The University College of Arts was inaugurated on 1st July, 1931. The inaugural courses were Telugu language and literature, History, Economics and Politics. A year later, the College of Science and Technology came into being with Honours courses in Physics and Chemistry. The University pioneered in introducing many new courses in Science, Arts, Management and Engineering in the country. Nobel Lariat C V Raman was the proud alumnus of the University and closely associated in laying research foundations in Physics. Padmavibhushan Prof. C R Rao, the renowned statistician of the world, was also the proud alumnus of the University.

The University Presently is Offering 313 Courses in Arts, Commerce, Management, Science & Technology, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy and Education. The University is spread in a sprawling campus of 422 acres dotted with 121 buildings of Academic, Administrative and support services with a plinth area of about 20 lakhs sq.ft., and 324 staff quarters. Presently the University is catering to the Educational needs of five green districts of Andhra Pradesh namely Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Vizinagaram and Srikakulam. The University has four Guest Houses, Central Canteen and four canteens at various locations, Press and Publication division, Women Waiting Halls, Faculty Club and Schools for Employees Children. The University is also having student services and welfare centres in the campus like post and Telegraph office, Banking facilities, University employment and Guidance bureau, training and placement centre and a sports complex including a Gymnasium Hall and a Press-Publications division. The University is also having 25 Research centres/institutions in the campus like Agro- Economic research Centre, Centre for Religious studies, Centre for Women s Studies, Delta studies Institute, Institute of public sector management, Institute for yoga and Consciousness and population Research Centre, OASTC, Bay of Bengal, etc. The University has well experienced and export faculty known world wide for their research contributions. There are 354 Professors, 198 Associate. Professors and 115 Asst. Professors serving the University. Organization of International and National events is a regular feature of the University. There are more than 2500 support staff working in the University.There are 636 affiliated colleges spread across five districts under the territorial jurisdiction of Andhra University. The enrolment in Affiliated Colleges is more than 1.5 Lakhs.

Constituent Institutes - The University has Five Constituent Colleges and Four AU Campuses

1. College of Arts & Commerce - It has 26 Departments offering 42 courses including four Diploma Courses.
2. College of Science & Technology - It has 21 Departments which offers 63 Courses including one PG Diploma.
3. College of Engineering - It has 15 Departments offering Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Research Programmes.
4. College of Law - It has been identified as an advanced Center in Law by UGC.
5. College of Pharmacy - It is first of its kind in South India, which is offering one UG Programme and six PG Programmes, besides Research Programmes leading to Ph.D. Degree.
6. AU Campus at Etcherla (Srikakulam Dist) - It has Eleven Departments
7. AU Campus, Kakinada (East Godavari District) - It has five Departments
8. AU Campus, Vizianagaram - It has five Departments
9. AU Campus, Tadepalligudem - It has four departments
10. School of Distance Education - The University has started school of Distance Education in the campus in 1972. It offers Courses ranging from Certificate Courses to Post Graduate and Professional Courses. The School of Distance Education presently offering 4 UG Programs, 18 PG Programs, 5 Certification Courses, 9 PG Diploma Courses, 15 Professional Courses and 7 Collaborative Courses through Distance Education Mode. The School has 35 study centres across the State. The enrolment in UG, PG, and Professional Programmes in the School of Distance Education is about 80,000 students. The School has 23 permanent faculty. It is Equipped with the latest infrastructure.

Faculty

• Faculty of Law.
• Faculty of Engineering.
• Faculty of Arts.
• Faculty of Commerce.
• Faculty of Science.
• Faculty of Fine Arts.
• Faculty of Oriental Learning.
• Faculty of Yoga.
• Faculty of Education.
• Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Faculty of Chemical Engineering.
• Faculty of Physical Education.

Facilities

Dr.V.S.Krishna Library - The Andhra University Library was started in the year 1927, renamed as V.S.Krishna Memorial Library in 1968 as a mark of respect to the former Vice-Chancellor Dr. V.S.Krishna. The Library has two branch Libraries, one in Engineering College and other in Law College. The Library is housed in an imposing structure overlooking the sea. It has three floors and one cellar floor. The ground and first floors have mezzanine floors too. The plan view of the building is in T shape, having East, West and Northern wings. The total plinth area of the building is about 60,000 sqft. The main functionaries of the Library are the Circulation, Periodicals, Reference, Acquisition, Binding and Technical sections apart from the Administrative and Computers sections. The Library has huge collection of books apart from important journals, microfilms, paper and palm leaf manuscript.

Hostels - The University campus is having 23 hostels for men which can accommodate more than 3200 students and 10 hostels exclusively for women with a capacity of more than 2000 seats. Two Hostels are specially constructed for foreign students. The University has also two Residential Health Centres one at south campus and the other at north campus

Cyber Laboratory - The CACC Lab is located in the first floor of Arts College building. The lab is air conditioned (Four units 2 tons capacity each) with an infrastructure facility to lodge computer systems. All the systems are located on a user-friendly desk designed specifically for the purpose with compatible cushioned chairs. Special electrification with UPS (two hours backup) is provided. Fire Extinguished equipment with smoke detector is also provided to meet eventualities. The CACC Lab is equipped with one main server and 32 computer systems independent of processing units, one CDROM writer, one inkjet printer, two dot matrix printers, scanner and Intel web camera. At present out of 32 computers, six systems are LAN connected to the main server to extend the Internet facility. A 56 KB optic fiber cable line is networked to the six systems for Internet surfing.

A.U. Health Centre - Formerly known as A.U. Dispensary was modified as A.U. Health Centre in 1981 with Senior Medical Officer and three Medical Officers. The Health Centre is mainly meant for medical, health and health hazards of A.U. students. The Health Centre is providing services round the clock to the satisfaction of students, scholars, teaching and non-teaching members and their family members with Senior Medical Officer, Two Medical Officers, Two Lady Medical Officers, and Six Visiting consultants. A large number of students staying in the A.U.Campus utilize the Hospital services as and when needed round the clock. There is a separate Homoeopathy Clinic attached to Health Centre in University. Facilities in A.U.Campus Hospital include Clinical Lab, Bio-chemical Lab, X-Ray, E.C.G. etc. Round the clock Ambulance services facility has been provided at AUHC for prompt treatment and transport to the Medical college Hospital with dedicated staff during day and night.

IQAC - Internal Quality Assurance Cell has been established in the University in 2005 at the instance of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) as a post accreditation quality sustenance measure.

USIC - The University Grants Commission has launched a scheme of University Science Instrumentation Centres in the Universities to create essential facilities where all major instruments in the University could be centralized for maximum utilization with workshop facilities supported by qualified personnel with different specializations for fabrication, repair and maintenance of all types of instruments. USICs in the Universities were established during 5th, 6th and 7th plan periods with the financial support of UGC with guidelines prescribing the objectives, functions, status of USICs. The USICs are normally included in the regular plan periods for development like other departments. Any upgradation or additional grants to USICs will be treated outside the plan period. USICs are categorized in three levels Viz., USIC Level - I, Level - II and Level - III. There are 32 Level - I, 23 Level - II and 9 Level - III USICs in the country. The USIC Level - I was established in Andhra University in the year 1976. Upgraded to Level - II in 1980 and Level - III in 1990.

University Employment Information and Guidance Bureau - As a joint venture of the Department of Employment and Training, Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra University, the university Employment information and guidance Bureau, Andhra University, started functioning since 2-12-1961, to cater to the needs of the students, alumni and scholars of the campus relating to careers.

Research, Consultancy and Extension - Andhra University has been well known for its research contributions, being the second major publisher of scientific papers in national and international journals during the Sixties and Seventies. The University is trying to retain its status. Several Departments of University have been identified for special assistance and / COSIST by the UGC. The Department of Physics has been carrying out pioneering research in ionosphere related problems and maintains an observatory with all modern equipment. The University has created a central facility, viz., Centre for Nuclear Techniques, wherein the facilities in the Centre are made available to all user Departments. The Department of Marine Living Resources has established an Ocean Science and Technology Cell under an MOU with the DOD to produce manpower to work on ocean related problems. An exclusive institute, the Delta Studies Institute, was established to carry out research related to specific problems of modern details with financial assistance from Oil India Development Board and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

UGC Academic Staff College - The Academic Staff Orientation Scheme (ASOS) has been sponsored by the University Grants Commission under the National Policy of Education, 1986 (NPE). The NPE recognizes the need for improving the status of teachers and proposes to provide opportunities for professional and career development.

Sports and Athletics - The Andhra University Sports Board is conducting Inter Collegiate Tournaments to 520 Affiliated. Colleges shall be divided into Four Zones Viz., A,B,C and D Zone. A -Zone Consists Colleges in Visakhapatnam City-Zone Consists of Visakhapatnam Rural, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam Districts, C-Zone consists of East Godavari District and D- Zone consists o West Godavari District. The day, 27th August 1927 is said to be the foundation day of Andhra University Physical Education Department. It was on this day that the Academic Council adopted a resolution and recommended to the Senate that compulsory Physical training and regular medical inspection of all the students be introduced in all the affiliated colleges. All the students who do not take part in sports shall undergo a compulsory course of Gymnastics or any other form of physical training. The Council also mentioned that exemption should only be given to those students who are declared unfit by a medical certificate. Sports Facilities include Volleyball Court, Badminton Court, Table Tennis Board etc.

Platinum Jubilee Guest House - The Platinum Jubilee Guest House located near Kirlampudi, is barely 3 km. away from the Railway Station and hop, step and jump away from the famed Lawson's Bay and Ramakrishna beach fronts. The view from the rooms promises to kindle the creative spark in those interested in academic pursuits and the discerning tourist. The Guest House boasts of 2 conference halls (250/175 capacity) with two attached banquet halls. There are 34 well appointed AC Rooms out of which four are executive suites (which includes a sitting lounge, dinning area and an expansive bedroom) for dignitaries. In addition, there are twelve economy non-AC rooms.

Achievements

1. The University has gone through the process of assessment and accreditation by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in April 2002. The Peer Committee has analysed the strengths and weaknesses of the institution and has assessed the University with ‘A' grade awarding it with the best percentage among the State Universities of Andhra Pradesh.
2. The University designed and implemented Quality Management System successfully and became the first general University in the country to get ISO 9001: 2000 Certification in 2006.