UNIVERSITY OF KERALA

The vision of a modern university for promoting education, specifically technical education, in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore led to the establishment of the University of Travancore through a royal proclamation in 1937.The vision is epitomised in the motto Karmani Vyagyate Prajna– Knowledge realising itself in action– adapted from Panchatantra. It became the sixteenth University in India to be established in the prevailing model of western Universities. For a long time, and for a considerable period after it became the University of Kerala in the post  independence India, the University was rated as one of the best of its kind in the whole world. May be it is difficult at present to have a proper perspective of the time and the magnificence of the institution, but a historical perspective can be generated if it is remembered that Trivandrum happens to figure among the first three places in India to which Jamshedji Tata began his air service, and the year 1935 saw the ruler of Travancore, Shree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, flying out of the airport at Trivandrum. Incidentally, several major engineering departments including the Public Health Engineering, and the Water Works were under the direct supervision of the University. The Observatory Hills which houses one of the earliest modern observatories in India is where the Wellington Water Works, one of the marvels not only of its time but even today, is situated. The University exemplifies the great tradition of popular education of singular excellence in Travancore.

Presently the University of Kerala is one among several Universities in the state of Kerala and has its territorial jurisdiction in the southern districts of the state. The administrative offices and a few departments are located at the Senate House campus at the city centre while the major set of the teaching and research departments are situated at the Campus at Kariavattom which is 12 kilometers from the city centre. While the Senate house building is an architectural splendour which has become a landmark of the city, the Kariavattom Campus is almost a rustic retreat with its bewitching greenery. It is fast developing into a modern university campus with all attendant facilities and houses the university centres devoted to advanced and frontier disciplines. The Technopark is also adjacent to the Campus. The Kariavattom campus is spread over 450 acres on either side of the national highway. Airport and the railway station are less than 15 Kms away. There are over 2500 students and research scholars and nearly 250 faculty members in 41 P.G departments of study and research and 20 Centres of study. There are also quarters for faculty and hostels for resident students along with other civic amenities.

At present, the University has 16 faculties. There are 188 affiliated colleges comprising of 63 arts and science Colleges, 18 Engineering Colleges, 5 Medical Colleges, 4 Ayurveda Colleges, 2 Homoeopathy Colleges, one Siddha Medical College, 5 Dental Colleges, 5 Pharmacy Colleges, 19 Nursing Colleges, 2 Law Colleges, 48 Teachers Training Colleges and one Physical Education College. Besides, there are 4 affiliated institutions conducting two year full time MBA  programmes, 4 Colleges offering MCA, 3 Unaided Hotel Management Catering Technology Colleges and one Para Medical College. In addition, 2 Engineering Colleges offer MBA programme and 3 Engineering Colleges offer MCA. The University has also got an Engineering College of its own in the Campus offering B.Tech programmes in Information Technology, Computer Science, Electronics and Communiction.

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, while the post graduate courses in affiliated colleges follow the semester pattern. At present, about 32 colleges offer post graduate teaching programmes. Some of the affiliated colleges offer M.Phil Courses  and some have been recognized as research centers. The  University has also recognized a number of other institutions as research centres. All these institutions conform to the aims and objectives of the University and its programme of teaching and research. 

The Academic Staff College of the University of Kerala, set up with UGC aid, has done the  University proud by being adjudged first among all ASCs in India consecutively for several years. The University has also widened its horizons by entering into academic cooperation with foreign universities like Valladolid of Spain and Claremont of the United States of America. UGC has  identified the University as one of the 26 institutions selected for promotion of India studies by foreign students.

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