University of Burdwan


The University of Burdwan is a premier Four Star public university in Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, India. It was established by the West Bengal Government as a teaching and affiliating university on 15 June 1960 with six graduate departments and 30 undergraduate colleges spread over three districts that come under the jurisdiction of the university. The jurisdiction covers Birbhum district, Purba Bardhaman district and Hooghly district except Srirampore subdivision. The main campus is of 398 acres Golapbag Campus 2) campus for Engineering. 3) Rajbati Campus 4) Tara bag Campus for Medical Education. It has been awarded Four Star status by NAAC under UGC, Govt. of India. This University is famous for Law, Management, Engineering & Medical Education.
The university offers more than 30 undergraduate and 66 postgraduate courses. There are 227 Esteemed Faculties and 189 affiliated colleges.

History

The last maharaja of Burdwan, Udaychand Mahtab, left the entire property of Burdwan to the government of West Bengal after the zamindari system ended in the 1950s. The then chief minister of West Bengal, Bidhan Chandra Roy took the initiative of establishing a university at the premises of the palace of the maharaja. Thus the university was established in 1960. Sukumar Sen was the first vice-chancellor. The university began with the humanities division, with the science and engineering courses included afterwards.
The university had jurisdiction over Purulia district, Birbhum district, Paschim Bardhaman district, Bankura district, Purba Bardhaman district and Hooghly district except the Srirampore subdivision. Over the years, the university lost the jurisdiction over the districts of Purulia, Bankura and Asansol, Durgapur to local universities, namely Sidho Kanho Birsha University in Purulia, Bankura University in Bankura and Kazi Nazrul University in Asansol & Durgapur.

Administration

Burdwan University is an autonomous state university. The governor of the state of West Bengal is its chancellor. Daily administration is handled under the leadership of the vice chancellor, who is appointed by the governor on the recommendations of the government of West Bengal. The vice chancellor is assisted by the pro vice chancellor who is de facto a senior faculty member of faculty of engineering and technology.
In the administrative structure, the highest body is the university court. It consists of members elected by the staff of the university from amongst themselves as well as alumni.
Next in hierarchy comes the executive council, which takes all the decisions relating to day-to-day functioning. It consists of staff and student members from the three faculties. The student members of the faculties finding representation on the executive council are the chairmen of the three student councils of unions.
The three faculties, in turn, have their own councils that are changed every four years and differ in their compositions. The Engineering faculty, for example, has members who are nominated either by the vice chancellor or are invited from the schools under the faculty. The Arts and Science faculties have member from the respective faculties. A common factor in each of the three is that each department is represented on the council by the head of the department and at least one other faculty member of the department.
Outside these councils are the offices of the registrar, finance officer, controller of examinations, university engineer, faculty secretaries, placement coordinator, and deans of the three faculties and students welfare which are responsible for the administrative tasks delegated to them. Finally, at the departmental level are the heads of departments.

Admission and academic faculties

For admissions to the Engineering faculty at the undergraduate level, students are admitted through the WBJEE, an entrance examination open to students from all over India. Unlike in a large number of states, there is no domicile quota in BU. Postgraduate students in engineering are admitted through GATE.
Admission to the Arts and Science faculties is by individual examinations for each of the departments at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Weight is given to marks obtained at the higher secondary level for undergraduate admissions and at the undergraduate level for postgraduate level.

Distance education

The University of Burdwan has a Directorate of Distance Education for conducting post-graduate studies in distance mode. This is for people who cannot undergo post-graduate studies in regular mode. The DDE was established in 1994. Courses of distance education in the university are approved by University Grants Commission and the Distance Education Council.

Library and centers

The University has a "Central Library" including other Departmental Libraries.

University Institute of Technology (UIT)

is a Government autonomous old professional engineering college under the University of Burdwan. It represents the faculty of engineering that was at National Institute of Technology, Durgapur since its inception. This college was inaugurated in 2001 by the then chief minister of West Bengal Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.
UIT is approved by the Government of West Bengal and All India Council for Technical Education. UIT is a National Board of Accreditation accredited institute. Admission in this college is done through centralized counseling by West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board. It is a NAAC accredited 'A' grade institute of the University of Burdwan.

Rankings

It was ranked 89th among the Universities of India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework in 2019. This University is ranked 3rd among all the Universities of West Bengal.

Sports Accolades

The University has been recognized for its contribution to the sports activities and producing sport persons at state and national level. University has been winners in various state and national level inter-university sporting events in Football, Cricket, Athletics, Badminton, Table tennis and Gymnastics.