Karnataka University Dharwad
The Bombay legislature of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency established the Karnatak University through the Karnatak University Act 1949. It became a statutory University on 1st March 1950. The jurisdiction of the University covers Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Uttar Kannada districts. It has several Post Graduate centres. The university is offering courses in the faculties of Arts, Commerce, Education, Law, Management, Science and Technology and Social Sciences.
Symbolic of the University’s vision and mission, the emblem of the University consists of a pipal tree at the centre, an open book, figures of a bull, a rising sun and the legend Arive Guru i.e., Wisdom is Guru, implying that both wisdom and knowledge should be all pervading like the ramifying pipal tree and light up the world with knowledge and eradicate illiteracy.
The University in its formative years had the leadership of Dr. D.C. Pavate as the Vice-Chancellor (1954-1967) who gave it a shape all its own with symmetry that merges with the environ that spells harmony. The rocky edifice built in magnificent style is a tribute to his genius as the architect with a matching academic input, the faculty, to earn the campus the name, Pavate Nagar for posterity.
There are 43 PG Departments, 222 teachers and 5000 students (PG, M. Phil., Ph.D.). The girl students constitute more than 50% of the total strength, including PG Diploma, M. Phil. and Ph.D. courses. 6% of the students are from outside the state. To eliminate social exclusion and to promote social justice, seats are reserved for SC/ST, Cat-I, Minorities, OBC and BC categories in accordance with the policy of the State Government. One seat each is reserved for the children of ex-servicemen, freedom fighters, physically challenged and sportsperson. The University has its own Primary & High School (The University Public School) since 1964, which meets the practice requirements of the B. Ed. College of Karnatak University.
The majority of Departments have independent buildings with adequate office space, classrooms, laboratories and seminar hall, which are upgraded from time to time with modern infrastructure. The Vidya Soudha houses several Departments of the Faculties of Social Sciences, Science and Technology, Commerce and Arts. The Departments of Business Management and Reproductive Health Management are housed in an independent building. The Department of Physical Education is housed in Kreeda Bhavan. Gandhi Bhavan accommodates the Department of Gandhian Studies. Bhasha Bhavan houses the Departments of Foreign Languages, Hindi, Urdu and Persian. B.R. Ambedkar Bhavana houses the Ambedkar Studies Centre. Kanaka Bhavan houses the Kanaka Peetha. The Viswachetana building houses Examination Section, Directorate of Distance Education, SC/ST/Cat I/ Minorities and Other Backward Classes Cells, NAAC and IQAC offices. The R.C. Hiremath Institute of Kannada Studies accommodates Departments of Kannada, Folklore, Sanskrit and Marathi. The University Prasaranga (publication division) is housed in an independent building. The Gandhi Bhavana, Auditorium in Golden Jubilee Building, Manasollasa and Senate Hall in the Vidya Soudha are multipurpose halls.
There are 5 constituent colleges, offering UG courses in science, arts, commerce, fine arts, law and education. Karnatak Arts and Karnatak Science Colleges also offer P.G. Courses. There are 23 hostels in all, including a working women’s hostel and ladies’ hostels. These provide residential accommodation to 2600 students of UG and PG courses. Over the last 59 years the number of affiliated colleges has increased from a mere 34 to more than 528.
The University has established 5 PG campuses, at Belgaum (178 acres), Bijapur (31 acres), Haveri (42 acres), Gadag (32 acres) and Karwar (6 acres) which are district headquarters. All campuses are self-contained and are at various stages of development. They cater to the needs of local people as well as promote specialized studies. For instance, the course on Pulp and Paper Technology is run from the premises of the West Coast Paper Mills, Dandeli (Uttara Kannada District).
The University provides wide options and choices – 43 PG courses, 4 advanced diplomas and 28 diplomas, 11 certificate courses, 26 M.Phil. and 42 Ph.D. programmes. Most of the Departments, on priority basis, incorporate interdisciplinary components in designing their curricula keeping in view the emerging thrust areas. During the last five years new state of the art technical courses have been introduced to compensate the loss of medical and engineering faculties and the consequent loss of revenue to the University. There are several self-financing courses, including an integrated course in Master of Tourism Administration, E-Commerce, M.Com. (Corporate Secretaryship), M. Sc. (Applied Genetics), M.Sc. (Biotechnology), M.Sc. (Computer Science), M.Sc. (Microbiology), MBA (CBCS), MBA (evening programme), MBA (International Business), MCA, MIM, P.G. Diploma in Bank Management and P.G. Diploma in Risk Management.
The University identifies the regional needs and overall development of students of this backward region of North Karnataka. A large number of students suffer from lack of communication skills and opportunities to develop their personality. The University has considered the region specific and community specific needs and has introduced (a) Computer Applications, (b) Environmental Problems and Human Rights, (c) Indian Constitution and (d) Development of Communication Skills and Personality as compulsory papers at the UG level. Periodic ICT workshops are conducted for students and staff (teaching and non-teaching) to equip them with the skill to access and utilize electronic information. The central library is equipped with educational CD-ROMs. A full-fledged computer centre has been set up in the Students’ Home.
Those who are not able to pursue regular UG and PG courses are given an opportunity of higher education through correspondence mode in the Faculties of Arts, Commerce and Social Sciences. The University has been attracting students from various countries like UAE, Nigeria, South Africa, Bangladesh, Iran, etc. The Department of Foreign Languages offers courses in Russian, German and French languages. The chairperson of this Department also functions as International Student Advisor.
The main campus in Pavate Nagar, comprising 750 acres, houses 43 Departments, Central Library and Auditoriums, Computer Centre, Stadium, indoor Badminton Hall, Gymnasium, Employment Information and Guidance Bureau, Students Home, Academic Staff College, Health Centre, Prasaranga, SC/ST/Cat-I/ BCM/ Cells, 2 Guest Houses, 2 Banks, Post Office, Main Canteen, Printing Press and two Museums in Kannada Research Institute Museum and Museum of Animals and Plants.
ADMINISTRATION:
Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj M.A., LL.B., Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa)
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF KARNATAKA
Chancellor of Karnataka University Dharwad
Shri. V. S. Acharya
Honorable Minister for Higher Education
Government of Karnataka
Pro Chancellor of Karnataka University Dharwad
Prof. H. B. Walikar M.A, Ph. D
Vice–Chancellor of Chancellor of Karnataka University Dharwad
Dr. S. B. Hinchigeri M.Sc. Ph.D.
Registrar of Chancellor of Karnataka University Dharwad
Prof. J. S. Bhat M.Sc., Ph.D.
Registrar (Evaluation) of Karnataka University Dharwad
Rajashri S.
Finance Officer of Karnataka University Dharwad
