MANGALURU: There is a proposal from the state government, to have a separate university for Kodagu, which is currently under Mangalore University. According to officials, Madikeri MLA M P Appachu Ranjan had demanded that the government have a separate university in Kodagu, which will help both students and faculty members in administration, and be convenient for travel.
Mangalore University has its jurisdiction over Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
K S Chandrashekharaiah, director of Jnana Kaveri Postgraduate Centre, Chikka Aluvara, said that there is a proposal to split Mangalore University (MU) in two, and have a separate dedicated university for Kodagu. The demand was proposed long ago by the MLA. Meanwhile the government is also mulling to add seven more universities in the state. “If the things work out, Kodagu will have a university in the coming days. However, there is no official order on this proposal yet,” he added.
Currently, Kodagu district has about 30 undergraduate and postgraduate colleges, coming under MU. Field Marshal K M Cariappa College is the oldest and biggest college, in terms of numbers, and is a constituent college of MU. It also has a separate PG centre—JKPGC—in Chikka Aluvara. Chandrashekharaiah said if the government announces a separate varsity for Kodagu, the JKPGC will be made an administrative office, which is spread over more than 70 acres.
One of the senior professors working in Kodagu, said that having a separate university will have various benefits. “Currently, all faculty members have to travel to Mangaluru for evaluation and other official work. It is the same with students, who have to visit Konaje for their academic work. This inconvenience can be avoided, with a separate varsity. Apart from it, Kodagu is culturally different from Dakshina Kannada. There will be better administration as well as facilities to offer for students,” the professor added.
