Goa University


Goa University was established under the Goa University Act of 1984 and commenced operations on 1 June 1985. The university provides higher education in the Indian state of Goa.
The traditions of Goa University date back to the 17th century, with the creation of the first university courses by the Portuguese Empire. However, it was only after the annexation of Goa that the process was consolidated, with the University of Mumbai establishing a Centre of Post-Graduate Instruction and Research in Panaji. The CPIR offered affiliation to the first colleges that were instituted in Goa in June 1962. Since 1985, the Goa University took over the role of the CPIR. The University offers graduate and post-graduate studies and research programmes. It is currently accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in India with a rating of A Grade.
It is located on the Taleigão plateau and is one of India's few universities offering western languages such as Portuguese and French languages. The University's Department of Portuguese and Lusophone Studies is the only such in the entire Indian subcontinent.

History

The university tradition of the Goa University also began during the Portuguese rule, with the installation of several institutions of higher education, the oldest one being the Goa Medical College, dating from 1691, followed by the Mathematical and Military School, founded in 1817, and Goa College of Pharmacy, founded in 1842. These schools gradually formed the Goa University when it was founded.

University Education in post-annexation of Goa

Within less than six months after the annexation of Goa, two colleges were started as a result of private initiatives and the government's backing:
In the very first year, the number of students who registered in these two colleges added up to 879.
Other colleges were soon established:
As these institutions and more came into existence, the question of affiliation surfaced and led to some debate since Goa was a Union Territory, and it was suggested they be affiliated to the Delhi University. However the colleges opted to be affiliated to the Mumbai University and at the request of the Government of Goa, the Centre of Post-Graduate Instruction and Research was started in Goa by the Mumbai University with the support of the Goa administration.
The Jha Committee proposed the establishment of a University in Goa, and recommended its gradual development from the Centre of Post-Graduate Instruction and Research into a full-fledged university over a period of five to ten years. The Committee made a number of additional recommendations in this regard, including the following:
  1. The CPIR was to be developed as a nucleus for the proposed university.
  2. The CPIR was to be placed under the administration of a Board set up by the Government of Goa with the cooperation of the University of Bombay.
  3. The administrative work of the CPIR was to be carried out by an Executive Committee of the Board, headed by the Director of the CPIR.
  4. The CPIR should be shifted to a proper site for the University.
  5. The Board of the CPIR would have all powers of an educational institution, including financial ones for the conduct of its activities and the academic powers would be vested in the University of Bombay.
  6. The Director would have the responsibility to develop the CPIR on sound lines so as to develop it into a future university and would be the forerunner of the future Vice-Chancellor.
  7. Other recommendations/suggestions were made with reference to Goa's historical, geographic and cultural position.

    Creation of university

On December 1, 1984, after a long struggle by the pro-autonomy groups in Goa, the Law of the Goa University was signed, which unlinked the CPIR from Mumbai University, and converted it into the Goa University. The aforementioned law extended the performance of GU to the territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which in practice never occurred.
It moved to its present 175-hectare campus on the Taleigao Plateau.

Campus

Goa University was designed by painter, sculptor, muralist, graphic designer and architect Satish Gujral. The University is built on the Taleigão plateau and located kilometres away from the state capital Panaji.

Statutory bodies

Statutory bodies of the university include the university court, executive council, planning board, academic Council and finance committee.

Mandate

Role of the University in higher education in Goa

Goa University, Goa's only university, is a university of affiliated colleges.
53 affiliated colleges:
29 in general education
24 professional education
Enrollment ~27,000, mostly for undergraduate studies
Main Campus primarily for post-graduate studies
Enrolment ~1,500

Library

Established in 1958 based on the collection of the Centre for Post Graduate Instruction and Research, University of Bombay, the university library holds more than 158,000 books. It subscribes to 350 periodicals. It is the repository of several collection of rare books including a collection on Indo-Portuguese history and culture donated by the late P. S. S. Pissurlekar.

Knowledge Portal

A large number of online resources are available to the users of the library under the programme of INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad project. The links to all those are provided via the Knowledge Portal. The off-campus access to these resources are provided using VPN connection.
Besides the material needed for the academic programmes, the library houses rich collection of literature in Konkani - the state language of Goa. The library is blessed with donations from many individuals. For example, it houses collection of a rare books on Indo-Portuguese History and Culture donated by the late Dr. P.S.S. Pissurlekar. Mr. Nuno Gonsalves of Portugal, Dr. S.Z. Qasim, Dr. V.V.R. Varadachari to name a few. It is also a designated Repository Library of United Nations publications since 1996.
The catalogue of the library is available online over Internet and anyone can consult the same to look for a particular document. Any serious user besides the students and teachers at the University can walk-in and consult resources.

Other initiatives

Goa University's Academic Staff College (ACS)

The ACS, supported by the Indian University Grants Commission conducts refresher and orientation courses for college and university teachers. As many as 46 professional and non-professional and non-professional colleges and institutions—for undergraduate teaching—are affiliated to the university. Besides, eight research institutions are recognised by the Goa University for research.

Distance Education, Information & Training Infrastructure (DEITI)

The DEITI Studio, which is linked to the Indian dedicated education satellite ‘Edusat’, produces a number of educational programmes.

Visiting Research Professors Programme

The Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Goa, has funded and established six Visiting Research Professorship Chairs at the university. The first chair was set up in 2007 in memory of D. D. Kosambi during his birth centenary but it remained unoccupied until 2013. Subsequently, chairs were set up in honour of Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar and Dayanand Bandodkar in 2010 and 2011 respectively, to commemorate their birth centenaries. In 2012, three more chairs were instituted in honour of Mario Miranda, Anthony Gonsalves and Nana Shirgaonkar. In 2014, the Sant Sohirobanath Ambiye in Marathi language and literature was established as a part of tercentenary birth anniversary celebrations of the Goan poet and saint. The Joaquim Heliodoro da Cunha Rivara Chair in Portuguese Studies and Indo-Portuguese Comparative Studies was established in 2016.
The complete list of Chairs at the University is as under:
Those who have been appointed to these Chairs include Romila Thapar, Madhav Gadgil, Sudhir Kakar, Meghnad Desai, Baron Desai, Shubha Mudgal, Githa Hariharan, Vidya Dehejia, Saurabh Dube, Ishita Banerjee-Dube, Kumkum Roy, Santiago Lusardi Girelli, etc..

Study India Programme

As per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Goa University with Nihon University, Japan, a batch of students under the Study India Programme visits the University for about 6 months every year to study Indian culture, Indian politics and Indian society.

Konkani Encyclopedia

Konkani Vishvakosh is soon to be a part of Konkani Wikipedia.

Goa University Choir

The University has its own choir which is among the few University choirs in India.

Recognised institutions

Recognised institutions functioning with Goa University recognition are:
is an indoor stadium located on the campus of Goa University. The stadium was constructed for the 2014 Lusophony Games for events of volleyball and basketball. The stadium is named after Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee former Indian politician and the founder of Bhartiya Jana Sangh. The stadium has a seating capacity of 4000 and was inaugurated by Governor of Goa Bharat Vir Wanchoo in 2014. It cost 82 crore and was built in 11 months which is a record for the construction of an indoor stadium of international standard. With a 131-metre sheet, the stadium is Asia's first stadium which has the longest single-sheet roof.

Rankings

The National Institutional Ranking Framework ranked Goa University in the 101–150 rank band overall in India and 81 among universities in 2020.

Notable Alumni