Calicut University, created by bifurcating Kerala University, is the second university to be set up in Kerala.[3] M. M. Gani, 1969–75, was the first vice-chancellor of the university. Its primary catchment area is the northern districts of Kerala.[3] Calicut University has nine schools and 34 departments.[3][4] As of 2018-19 Calicut University had 301 undergraduate students and 1799 post-graduate students.[5] The number of full-time doctoral students was 581.[5] The university was ranked 54th among Indian universities by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2020[6] and 76th overall.[7]
Calicut University manages around 400 independent affiliated colleges spread across northern Kerala.[3] It also conducts examinations for the students of the affiliated colleges.[3] It is also the largest 'affiliating' university in Kerala.[3]
History
The University CafeteriaThe 'Student Trap'
The University came into being as a result of the efforts of the leaders C.H. Mohammed Koya , C. Achutha Menon, and K. P. Kesava Menon. With the encouragement of the then Kerala Chief Minister, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, C.H. Mohammed Koya the then Kerala Education Minister constituted a twenty-two member committee of experts to make a pilot study on establishing new universities in the State.
The twenty-two member Committee in its report unanimously recommended the immediate establishment of a University in Calicut to organize post-graduate departments of studies and research and to affiliate colleges in the northern districts. Before long C.H. Mohammed Koya appointed K.C. Chacko, Director of Technical Education as the special officer and M. Abdul Rahim, Municipal Commissioner, as administrative officer for the formation of the University at Calicut. On 23 July in 1968 C.H Mohammed Koya obtained an Ordinance on creating the University.
Thus came into being the University of Calicut. K.C. Chacko, Special Officer, was appointed the first Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University; the University was formally inaugurated at a public function on 12 August in 1968, the Calicut University Bill was passed by the State Legislative Assembly on 29 August in 1968; and statutory bodies such as the Senate, Syndicate, Academic Council, Faculties and Boards of Studies were constituted [8]
The university was established through a Kerala government plan bifurcating the Kerala University. As per the plan, the four post-graduate departments of the Kerala University operating in Calicut were annexed to the new university.[3]
Campus
The main university campus is located at Tenhipalam, 24 km (15 mi) south of the city of Calicut and about 30 km (19 mi) from city of Malappuram. Most of the teaching and research departments, the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, and the Administration Block are situated on the main campus. The university also has two off-campus centers, one at Thrissur and the other, specially meant for tribal empowerment, located in the Western Ghats area of the state, Wayanad. Besides these, there are self-financing centers located in different parts of the area of jurisdiction.[9]
Central facilities
Central Library (CHMK Library), University of Calicut
The following are the central facilities in the University of Calicut.[10]
Pareeksha Bhavan
Calicut University Computer Center
CHMK Library
Botanical Garden
Thaliyola
Madhava Obeservatory
Central Sophisticated Instrumentation Facility
University Museum
University Park
University Science Instrumentation Center
CHMK Library
Calicut University Library was established in 1971.
The library was renamed after C.H. Mohammed Koya (former chief Minister, Government of Kerala).
It has a collection of about 95,000 books and subscribes to 218 journals and 10 newspapers.
The library follows the Anglo American Cataloguing Rules II (with slight modifications) for cataloguing and the Dewey Decimal Scheme of Classification for the classification of books.
Organisation and administration
Governance
A Vice-chancellor is the head of the university.[11] M. K. Jayaraj is the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calicut.[12]
The Senate - consists of 16 members including the Chancellor (Governor of Kerala), the Pro-Chancellor (Kerala Minister of Education), the Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor.
The Syndicate - consists of 6 members including the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Higher Education Secretary, Director of Public Instruction and Director of Collegiate Education.
The Academic Council - the supreme academic body of the university.
The Faculties
The Boards of Studies Boards of Studies - the basic design of the curricula is done by the Boards of Studies.
The Students' Council - consists of 22 elected members from various independent affiliated colleges and university departments and six members including the Vice-Chancellor.
The Finance committee - consists of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, representatives of the Senate, the Syndicate and the Academic Council, the Finance Secretary to Government or an Officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary nominated by him and the Higher Education Secretary to Government.
Self generated income from examination, academic and other departments
Salaries and pensions
Conduct of examinations
Other recurring administrative and departmental expenses
II: Plan Funds
Grant from UGC
Kerala State Plan Grant
Receipts from the self financing courses/centers
Plan funds received from the Government of Kerala and the UGC are used only for the specific purposes for which they are sanctioned
A: UGC assisted plan expenditure
B: Kerala State assisted plan expenditure
C: Expenditure related to self financing courses/centers.
III: Earmarked Funds
Various funding agencies towards fellowships, scholarships and research projects.
Used only for the specific purposes for which they are intended
IV
Debts, deposits and advances
Kerala State Non-Plan Grant (for 2018/19) - Rs. 20,814.88 lakhs
Income from internal sources - Rs. 12,875.13 lakhs
Kerala State Plan Grant (for 2018/19) - Rs. 2,500.00 lakhs
Grant from UGC under XIIth Plan - Rs. 436.40 lakhs
Salaries and pension alone contribute to 63.03% of the total expenditure.
Salary - Rs. 14,541.12 lakhs
Pension & DCRG - Rs. 8,151.50 lakhs
Development & Modernisation - Rs. 3,146.32 lakhs
Conduct of Exam - Rs. 2,105.00 lakhs
Scholarships/Research Projects - Rs. 761.81 lakhs
Departments
Calicut University Schools
Name
Departments
Language & Literature
English, Hindi, Malayalam & Comparative Literature and Sanskrit
Bioscience
Biotechnology, Botany, Life Science, Psychology, Zoology and Environment Science
Social Sciences
Economics, Folklore Studies, History, Philosophy, Political Science and Women's Studies
Mathematics & Computational Sciences
Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics
Chemical & Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Physics and Nanoscience and Technology
Education
Education, Lifelong Learning and Extension and Physical Education
Information & Communication Studies
Journalism and Mass Communication and Library and Information Science
Fine Arts
Drama & Fine Arts
Business Studies
Commerce and Management Studies
Sociology, Geology and Law
Each school in Calicut University comprises a group of related departments, headed by director. Each department in the school has separate head of the department.[10]
There are nine schools, 34 departments with three centres and 11 chairs.[14] The university has two off campus centres, one at Thrissur and the other in Wayanad.[14]
Off campus campus centres I
Lakshadweep
Dr. John Matthai Centre, Thrissur
Centre for Folklore Studies
Off campus campus centres II
School of Drama and Fine Arts: Located in Aranattukara, a suburb of Thrissur city this department of the university provides formal education and training in drama and theatre. The school is affiliated with National School of Drama.[15] The school was established in 1977 as a centre for drama artists in Kerala. In 2000, the institute started the music department offering Post Graduate and PhD courses.[16][17]
Institute of Tribal Studies and Research: Institute of Tribal Studies & Research is located at Chethalayam in Wayanad district is established for empowering tribal students for higher education. The centre is also devoted to carry out research on tribal communities.[18]
Its current jurisdiction extends to five central and northern districts of the state. The university currently has about 391 'affiliated colleges'. These colleges are spread over Malappuram district (122), Kozhikode district (105 colleges), Thrissur district (74), Palakkad district (73) and Wayanad district (17). It also conducts examinations for the students of the affiliated colleges.[3]
A total annual intake of students in the affiliated colleges is nearly 100,000.[19] Most of the colleges are Self Financing Colleges and the rest are Government or Aided Colleges. Most of the colleges offer only under-graduate degrees, while around 100 colleges also offer post-graduate degrees.[19]
Classification based on funding
Government Colleges (41)
Aided Colleges (60)
Self Financing Colleges (290)
Subject-wise they comprise 254 Arts & Science Colleges, 63 Training Colleges, 40 Engineering/Technical Colleges, 10 Law Colleges, 33 Arabic/Oriental Title Colleges, 11 I. H. R. D. Centres, eight Management Studies Colleges, one Music College, one Fine Arts college, two Colleges of Physical Education, two colleges for Hotel Management.[19]
The university publishes a list of affiliated colleges and courses.[20]
Types of affiliated colleges
Architecture-Engineering
Training
Management
Law
Arts & Science-Arabic/Oriental Title
Physical Education
Academics
Rankings
University of Calicut ranked 69 among Indian Universities in NIRF ranking 2022.[21]
The annual 'Interzonal' cultural festival, 'kalolsavam', is held during the months of January - April or in between. The Interzones are conducted among students from the independent 'affiliated colleges' spread across five northern Kerala Districts.[24] The various Kerala Districts conducts different zonal competitions and the winners gain entry to the 'interzonal' event.[25]
The festivals goes on for a week at the most (offstage and onstage).
Sports competitions
The annual sports competitions also takes place between the inter colleges among the zones as well as among the zonal colleges. The sports event follow the cultural event and go on for a week.[26]
