Madikeri: The State Government has proposed to have a separate university for Kodagu, which is presently under Mangalore University (MU). According to sources, Madikeri MLA M. P. Appachu Ranjan has urged that the government establish a separate university in Kodagu, which will ease travel for both students and staff members in administration.
Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts fall under the jurisdiction of Mangalore University.
Presently, there are around 30 undergraduate and graduate colleges in MU’s Kodagu District. The oldest and most popular institution is Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa College, which comes under MU. Moreover, it also has a separate PG centre called Jnana Kaveri Postgraduate Centre (JKPGC) in Chikka Aluvara.
If everything goes as planned and the government declares a separate university for Kodagu, the JKPGC of MU will be converted into an administrative office that will span more than 70 acres. Faculties and students must travel to Mangaluru for analysis, official duties and academic studies.
When asked if there has been any update regarding the proposal, Mangaluru University Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya said, “We have not yet received any official communications from the Government of Karnataka. They have not asked for any response from the university as well. It is a government policy and we will fall in line with the government’s decision. We are not against the policy.”
The Post Graduate Center of Mangalore University started in 1997 with a PG programme in microbiology. Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa College, Madikeri, a constituent college, then launched a Biochemistry M.Sc. programme. Mangalore University launched a PG Center at Chikka Aluvara to meet the demands of the Kodagu people in terms of higher education.
In 2014, the PG programmes in microbiology and biochemistry were moved to a new campus with a 70.47-acre land and were given the name Jnana Kaveri PG Centre. Microbiology and Biochemistry departments at the JKPGC are well-established and provide M.Sc. and PhD programmes. The Center also provides PG degrees in the humanities, science, and commerce.
