William Carey University - WCU

About William Carey University - WCU

William Carey University (WCU), Shillong is a Private University established by the Gazette of Meghalaya No. 76 William Carey Act 2005. The university lays special emphasis on environmental and socio-economic development of North East India through social, economic, environmental, cultural and academic activities. It offers mainly post graduate courses as of 2015. WCU is sponsored by ACTS - Academy of Higher Education, Bangalore, India. It was founded in July 1979 and has done commendable work in the education field. It is affiliated to International Council for Higher Education, Zurich, Switzerland, International Council for Open and Distance Education, Asia Theological Association, City and Guilds (UK), Andhra University and Dravidian University. The proposal for establishing William Carey University was submitted to the Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, and Education Department on March 1st, 2006. After a lapse of more than one year, the Governor of Meghalaya accorded sanction for the establishment of the University. Thus on the 6^th of August, 2007, the University made a modest start when Dr. Ken Gnanakan was recommended to be the Chancellor of William Carey University, by the Board of Management, ACTS Ministries.

WCU is named after William Carey, a Christian missionary who came to India in 1793 and settled in the Danish colony of Serampore, near Calcutta. He was a pioneer of social and educational initiatives that continue even today. Apart from establishing various schools, he founded the Serampore College in West Bengal which is still active. He is also credited for reviving the Sanskrit and Bengali language. The University is located at Zoram Villa, a rented building that has five classrooms, staff room, library, and offices. Land for the university was purchased at Laitkor in early 2008. Since there was no proper approach road, it was not appropriate to construct a university building. Later Land was purchased at Umsning, which is 30 kilometres away from Shillong, and a permanent campus of 8 acres land is being established there. Some the programmes offered by WCU are in collaboration with other Universities in India and in other parts of the world. It has collaborated for PG Diploma in Education with Andhra University and for MA Environmental Management with Kalyani University.