# Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala

Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), commonly referred to as MG University, is a state owned public university headquartered in Kottayam in the state of Kerala, India. It was established on 2 October 1983 on Gandhi Jayanti day. Mahatma Gandhi University (formerly Gandhiji University) has been approved by University Grants Commission (UGC) and accredited (A++) by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India. The university has around 300 affiliated colleges spread over five districts in central Kerala.

## Academics

The university offers around 300 academic programmers (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral degrees) in the fields of Pure and Applied Sciences, Technology, Paramedical Studies, Nursing, Management, Law, Engineering, Gandhian Thought, development studies, International Relations, Inter disciplinary Integrated Master of Sciences, Politics, Physics, Nano Science, Disability Studies, Rehabilitation Sciences, Special Education, Psychology, Behavioral Medicine, Tourism, Journalism, Chemical Sciences, Polymer Engineering, Hospital Administration, Environmental Sciences, Disaster Management, Business Studies, Commerce, Economics, Arts, Pedagogical Studies, Hotel and Hospitality Management, Catering Science, Food and Nutrition, Computer Science, Biotechnology, Geoinformatics among others. Average annual student enrollment is around 40,000.

## Administration

Prof. C. T. Aravindakumar serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the University. The registrar is Prof. (Dr.) Prakashkumar B. and Dr. Sreejith C. M. holds the charge of Controller of Examinations. Biju Mathew acts as the Finance Officer.
The university is funded by the University Grants Commission and the Government of Kerala. It is a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Association of Commonwealth Universities represents over 480 universities from Commonwealth countries.

## Location

The university campus is in the Priyadarsini Hills, Athirampuzha 13 kilometers from Kottayam Railway Station and 4 kilometers from Ettumanoor. To reach the campus take the deviation from M.C. Road at Ettumanoor or Gandhi Nagar. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport situated at Nedumbassery, Cochin which is about 79 km away. Private buses to Ernakulam starting from the Nagampadom bus stand at the northern end of the railway platform at Kottayam stop at the university. It is located 13 km away from the city of Kottayam.

## Schools and departments

* School of Behavioral Science
* School of Bio-Science
* School of Chemical Science
* School of Computer Sciences
* School of Distance Education
* School of Environmental Science
* School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies
* School of Indian Legal Thought
* School of International Relation & Politics
* School of Printing & Publishing
* School of Letters
* School of Pedagogical Sciences
* School of Physical Education & Sports Science
* School of Pure and applied physics
* School of Management & Business Studies
* School of Social Science
* School of Technology & Applied Sciences
* School of Tourism Studies
* Department of Life-Long Learning & Extension
* National Institute of Plant Science Technology
* Inter University Center For Studies in Science of Music
* Centre For High Performance Computing
* Inter University Centre for Disability Studies
* International and Inter University Centre for Nano science and Nanotechnology
* Institute for Integrated Programmers and Research in Basic Sciences (IIRBS)
* Inter University Centre for Biomedical Research
* Inter University Instrumentation Centre
* Advanced Molecular Materials Research Centre
* Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension
* Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development
* Centre for English Language and Communication Skills
* K.n. Raj study centre for planning and centre -state financial relations

## CARLIS

Centre for Advanced Research in Library and Information Sciences (CARLIS) was established in 2010 for research on technologies that can transfer existing knowledge from traditional media to future proof digital media for the networked society.
CARLIS covers two main areas; Library Science and Information Science along with their applications using technologies developed in allied areas. CARLIS started Offering PhD programmes in 2010 and the areas of research are content management, digital archiving, multimedia resources, information administration, information economics, information infrastructures, IPR issues, knowledge warehousing, language technologies, Open Access protocols, resource sharing networks etc.
It is envisaged as a national centre and will have initially an Advisory Council with experts from India and abroad, an Honorary Director, experts from different areas in knowledge management as faculty. The research by the team associated to CARLIS has developed the Digital Library package with search mechanisms for Indian scripts used in Gandhi University on line Theses Library the first official Open Access Archive of PhD theses from Indian universities.

## Rankings

The Times Higher Education (THE) has ranked MG university amongst the top 500 universities in the World in THE World University Rankings 2023.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala 67th overall in India in 2024, and 37th among universities in 2024.

## Notable alumni

* Karunakaran Babu
* George Kurian (politician)
* P. K. Biju
* Linto Joseph
* Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath
* Kurian Joseph
* Srikant Murali
* Surabhi Lakshmi
* Aprem Mooken
* Nayanthara
* B. Kemal Pasha
* Kandathil Sebastian
* K. M. Tharakan
* Venu Rajamony
* Vijilesh Karayad
* Eldhose Kunnappilly