Karnatak University (KUD) is a public state university in Dharwad, Karnataka, India. KUD was officially established in 1950 through the Karnatak University Act, 1949, passed by the legislature of the Bombay Province.
The university is the second-oldest in the state of Karnataka, after the University of Mysore. Karnatak University once served most parts of Karnataka, including the districts of Dharwad, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Bidar and Ballari until the 1980s. Additionally, from 1953 to 1965, the Manipal Institute of Technology and Kasturba Medical College in Manipal were affiliated with Karnatak University. The bifurcation of districts and the establishment of new universities in the region have reduced Karnatak University's jurisdiction to the present-day districts of Dharwad, Gadag, Uttara Kannada.
The university is recognized under "University with Potential for Excellence" scheme by the University Grants Commission. In 2022, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accredited KUD with an 'A' grade and a CGPA of 3.13.
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History
As early as 1917, the people of North Karnataka raised donations for establishing a university in the region and handed them to the government of Bombay Presidency, in the same year, the presidency government passed a resolution to establish universities in different linguistic regions of the presidency. Later a committee under the chairmanship of Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad recommended the establishment of Karnatak University and the senate of Bombay University gave its assent in 1926. During the 12th session of Kannada Sahitya Sammelana at Ballari, the first Karnatak University conference was held with members resolved to form an organisation called ''Karnatak Vishwavidyala Samithi" with Aluru Venkata Rao and S. S. Basavanal as its secretaries. After a period of dormancy, the second Karnatak University conference was held at Belgaum with R. A. Jahagirdar as its president. In 1946, Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha observed "Karnatak University Day" all over the region. Subsequently, the Bombay government appointed the Karnatak University committee and in 1949 the "Karnatak University" bill was passed in the legislature paving the way for establishment of KUD with R. A. Jahagirdar as its first vice chancellor.
Academics
KUD comprises 51 postgraduate departments, 154 teaching staff and a student strength of 4,500.
Affiliated colleges
KUD has more than 250 colleges affiliated to it throughout its jurisdiction. KUD administers 5 constituent colleges throughout Dharwad namely Karnatak Arts College, Karnatak Science College, University College of Education, Sir. Siddappa Kambli Law College and University College of Music & Fine Arts.
Campus
KUD's campus spans 888 acres in the Pavate Nagar area of Dharwad. The main building of KUD, the Vidya Soudha was built in 1959 with emphasis on embibing Indian architecture with Neoclassical style.
Postgraduation centers
KUD has 3 PG centers other than the main campus, namely at Karwar, Gadag and Haveri.
PG Center, Karwar: Established in 1975, with academic programs focusing on Marine Sciences in addition with Commerce and English studies.
PG Center, Gadag: Established in 2000, offering academic programs like MCom, MBA and MSW.
PG Center, Haveri: Established in 2001, with academic programs in the fields of Kannada studies, Social work, Commerce, English studies, Sociology, Journalism & Mass communication.
Postgraduate departments
The university currently has the following faculties: Arts, Science and Technology, Social science, Commerce, Law, Education, Management.
Science departments
Department of Computer Science
Department of Electronics
Department of Physics
Department of Mathematics
Department of Statistics
Department of Library Science
Department of Applied Genetics
Department of Microbiology & Biotechnology
Department of Chemistry
Department of Botany
Department of Geology
Department of Sericulture
Department of Zoology
Department of Marine Biology
Department of Oceanography
Center for Excellence in Polymer Science
Research Center For DNA Diagnostics
Social Science Departments
Department of Sociology
Department of Economics
Department of Political Science
Department of Commerce
Department of Gandhian Studies
Department of A.I. History & Epigraphy
Department of Law
Department of Education
Department of Anthropology
Department of Geography
Department of Yoga Studies
Department of Criminology & Forensic Science
Department of Journalism & Mass Communication
Department of Philosophy
Department of Psychology
Department of Population Sciences
Department of Social Work
Research Center for Women's Studies
Department of Library and Information Science
Department of Urban Design & Planning
Department of Management Studies
Master in Business Administration,
Master in Commerce,
Master in Corporate Secretaryship
Art Departments
Dr. R. C. Hiremath Institute of Kannada Studies
Department of Cultural Studies
Department of Folklore
Department of English
Department of Sanskrit
Department of Foreign Languages
Department of Hindi
Department of Yoga Studies
Department of Music
Department of Kannada Research Institute
Notable alumni
J. Alexander
Joseph Almeida (educator)
G. S. Amur
K. S. Amur
S. Rajendra Babu
Shobhan Bantwal
U. Narayan Bhat
P. T. Bopanna
Joseph D'souza
Sucheta Dalal
Vasant P. Dandin
D. V. Guruprasad
Suresh Heblikar
Jyoti Hegde
Panduranga Hegde
S. R. Hiremath
Narayan Sadashiv Hosmane
Ramachandra S. Hosmane
Ramakrishna V. Hosur
Pankaj Jain
A. M. Jayannavar
Jayanth Kaikini
Shashikala Kakodkar
Chandrashekhara Kambara
Girish Karnad
Mallikarjun Kharge
Vivek Kulkarni
Ananth Kumar