University of Calicut also known as Calicut University, is a state-run public university headquartered at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district of the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1968, it is the first university to be set up in northern Kerala. The university is coordinated by the University Grants Commission (re-accredited by NAAC with 'A+' grade).
Calicut University, created by bifurcating Kerala University, is the second university to be set up in Kerala. M. M. Gani, 1969–75, was the first vice-chancellor of the university. Its primary catchment area is the northern districts of Kerala. Calicut University has nine schools and 34 departments. As of 2018–19, Calicut University had 301 undergraduate students and 1,799 post-graduate students. The number of full-time doctoral students was 581.
Calicut University manages around 400 independent affiliated colleges spread across northern Kerala. It also conducts examinations for the students of the affiliated colleges. It is also the largest 'affiliating' university in Kerala.
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History
The university came into being as a result of the efforts of the leaders of communist party 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.
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 1968, the Calicut University Bill was passed by the State Legislative Assembly on 29 August 1968; and statutory bodies such as the Senate, Syndicate, Academic Council, Faculties and Boards of Studies were constituted.
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.
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.
Central facilities
The following are the central facilities in the University of Calicut.
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. Dr. P. Raveendran is the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calicut.
The Senate - consists of 16 members including the Chancellor (Governor of Kerala), the Pro-Chancellor (Kerala Minister of Higher 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.
Endowment
From the 2019 Annual Report
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
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.
There are nine schools, 34 departments with three centres and 11 chairs. The university has two off campus centres, one at Thrissur and the other in Wayanad.
Lakshadweep
Dr. John Matthai Centre, Thrissur
Centre for Folklore Studies
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. 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.
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.
Affiliated colleges
From the 2019 Annual Report
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.
A total annual intake of students in the affiliated colleges is nearly 100,000. 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.
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.
The university publishes a list of affiliated colleges and courses.
Architecture-Engineering
Training
Management
Law
Arts & Science-Arabic/Oriental Title
Physical Education
Academics
Rankings
University of Calicut ranked 70th among Indian Universities in the NIRF ranking 2023.
Student life
Cultural festival
The annual 'Interzonal' cultural festival, 'Kalolsavam', is held from January to April or between. The Interzones are conducted among students from the independent 'affiliated colleges' spread across five northern Kerala Districts. The various Kerala Districts conducts different zonal competitions and the winners gain entry to the 'interzonal' event.
The festivals go on for a week (offstage and onstage).
Sports competitions
The annual sports competitions also occur between the inter colleges among the zones and the zonal colleges. The sports event follow the cultural event and go on for a week.
Inter University Championship
All India inter-university men's football championship -2022
Overall title in the National men's inter-university athletics championships- 2012,2024
All India Inter University Hand Ball Trophy- 2022
Honorary Degree
Recipients of Honorary Degree
S. K. Pottekkatt: A famous Malayalam writer from Kerala, Pottekkatt won the Jnanpith award in 1980 for the novel Oru Desathinte Katha (The Story of a Locale), D.Litt. conferred on 25.03.1982
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer: Freedom Fighter, Novelist and Short Story Writer. Awarded Padmasree in 1982. Fondly remembered as the Beypore Sulthan, D.Litt. conferred on 19.01.1987
Prof. M. M. Ghani: The first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calicut.An academic administrator par excellence, devoted every moment of his six year long tenure to giving it a strong foundation, LL.D. conferred on 24.08.1987
K. P. Kesava Menon: A patriot, idealist, and Indian independence activist. He was a member of the Home Rule League. Menon was the founder of Mathrubhumi. D.Litt. conferred on 24.08.1987
N. V. Krishna Warrier: Former Director of Bhasha Institute, D.Litt. conferred on 24.08.1987
M. T. Vasudevan Nair: Popularly known as MT, is an Indian Author, Screenplay writer, and film director. Awarded the Jnanpith in 1995. D.Litt. conferred on 22.06.1996
P. K. Warrier: Indian Ayurvedic Physician. Chief Physician and Managing Trustee of Aryavaidyasala, Kottakkal, Kerala. D.Litt. conferred on 22.05.1999.
M. F. Husain: An Indian-born Qatari eminent painter. D.Litt. conferred on 25.09.2003
V. R. Krishna Iyer: Popularly known as Justice VR Krishna Iyer. Former Judge in the Supreme Court of India. • Conferred with Padma Vibhushan in 1999. D.Litt. conferred on 25.09.2003
Arun Nigavekar: An educationalist, a Physicist, Former Chairperson of UGC and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pune. Aptly called as "Father of Quality Movement in Higher Education in India". D.Sc. conferred on 25.09.2003.
Notable alumni
Politician
Puthalath Dinesan, Politician Central Committee Member Of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Chief Editor Of Deshabhimani
R. Bindu, Minister of Higher Education Kerala
K. T. Jaleel, Minister of Higher Education Kerala and Minority affairs on the period of 2016–2021
P. Sreeramakrishnan, speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly on the period of 2016–2021
M. B. Rajesh, Current Minister of Local Self-Governments and Excise Kerala
P. A. Mohammed Riyas, Minister for Public Works Department and Tourism, Government of Kerala former and former all India President of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).
N. Samsudheen MLA of Mannarkad on the period of 2016–2021, 2021–2026
V. T. Balram, MLA of the Thrithaala on the period of 2016–2021
Mohammed Faizal P. P, Member of Lok Sabha
Richard Hay, politician
P K Navas Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
Judiciary
Surendran Pattel, Judge for 240th Texas District Court
Academicians
K. K. N. Kurup, historian and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calicut
M. G. S. Narayanan, headed the Department of History at Calicut University from 1976 to 1990
Abraham V. M, vice-chancellor of Christ University, Bengaluru
Ayyappanpillai Ajayaghosh, organic chemist, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate
Kalliat Valsaraj, chemical engineer, academic and author
M. N. Karassery, Malayalam author and former HOD of the Malayalam department of University of Calicut
Sportsperson
Anju Bobby George, Indian athlete
Jimmy George, volleyball player
V. P. Suhair, Indian professional footballer
V. Diju, Indian Badminton player. Olympian, Arjuna Awardee
Cyril C. Valloor, Indian volleyball player
Journalist
Tareq Ayyoub - Arab television reporter of Palestinian nationality, employed by Al Jazeera
John Brittas - Indian politician and journalist
Arts
Vineeth Kumar, Film actor
Vinod Kovoor
Surabhi Lakshmi
Zakariya Mohammed, film director
T. V. Chandran, film director
Deedi Damodaran, film director
Jenith Kachappilly, Indian film director
Girish Puthenchery, Indian lyricist, poet, scriptwriter and screenwriter
Rajesh Touchriver, Indian film writer, director
Ranjith, Indian film director
Ranjith Padinhateeri, biological physicist, N-Bios laureate
Shyamaprasad, Indian film director
Sithara, playback singer
Sunny Wayne, Indian Actor
C. R. Rajagopalan, folklore researcher and writer.
Engineers
K. Radhakrishnan, Padmabhushan, Former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation
M. Chandra Dathan, Padmashree, Former Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
Babu Bharadwaj, writer and journalist
T. G. Ravi, Malayalam film actor and MD of Suntec Tyres
Anand Neelakantan, writer
Sreekumaran Thampi, Lyricist, director, producer, screenwriter
Prakash Bare, actor, producer
M Sivasankar IAS
Prasanth B Nair, Astronaut
Others
Thalappil Pradeep, Indian scientist
Jithin Premnath, managing director of Clover Doyen, Awards won – Pathrose Puthran, Madhura Chinthamani, Tally Award & Micro Kelu
Vice chancellors
M. M. Gani (13/5/1969–31/5/1975)
N. A. Noor Mohammed (14/11/1975–26/11/1978)
K. A. Jaleel (31/8/1979–27/2/1983)
T. N. Jayachandran (14/9/1983–13/9/1987)
T. K. Ravindran (2/11/1987–1/2/1992)
A. N. P Ummerkutty (5/2/1992–4/2/1996)
K. K. N. Kurup (20/6/1998–19/6/2002)
Syed Iqbal hasnain (23/10/2002–22/10/2006)
Anwar Jahan Zuberi (26/2/2007–25/2/2011)
Dr. M. Abdul Salam (12/8/2011–11/8/2015)
Dr. K. Mohammed Basheer (21/11/2015–20/11/2019)
M. K. Jayaraj (2019–2024)
Dr. Poovathinthodiyil Raveendran (22/1/2026–present)