The 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 1799 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.

History

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 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 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 south of the city of Calicut and about 30 km 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.

CHMK Library

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.

Endowment

From the 2019 Annual Report Salaries and pension alone contribute to 63.03% of the total expenditure.

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.

Off campus campus centres I

Off campus campus centres II

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.

Classification based on funding

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.

Types of affiliated colleges

Academics

Rankings

University of Calicut ranked 70th among Indian Universities in the NIRF ranking 2023.

Demographics

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

Honorary Degree

Recipients of Honorary Degree

Notable alumni

Politician

Judiciary

Academicians

Sportsperson

Journalist

Arts

Engineers

Vice chancellors