Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar

During the Eleventh Five- Year Plan, there was a proposal put forward for the created of several more central universities, to tackle the shortage of quality higher education. It would also lessen the financial burden which was being created thanks to the burgeoning of private education. The proposal was then accepted and the decision was taken for the creation of twelve more such central universities, all in different states. These new central universities would come up in the states of – Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Rajasthan. In addition, three more existing universities in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand were to be upgraded to central university status. Admissions to all these universities is via the Central University Common Entrance Test (CUCET). Special provisions here are also made for the admission of foreign students. 

The Central University of Gujarat is located in the capital city of Gandhinagar. It was created in 2009. The academics here is divided into eight separate schools. There are schools for- Social Sciences, Life Sciences, International Studies, Chemical Sciences, Nano Science, Environment & Sustainable Development, Library & Information Science and Language- Literature & Culture Studies. There are several courses being offered within each school. Courses are available right from the UG till the doctoral levels. In addition to these departments, there are also some special centres which focus on specific areas of research where they have the requisite expertise. These here are for – Diaspora Studies and Applied Chemistry.

As is usually the case, the facilities on offer at this central university are right up to date. There is a large central library and a central instrumentation facility. The latter is most useful for the science and technology- based courses. Hostels are also available for both girls and boys. In addition, for those who require, there is private accommodation in the main Gandhinagar city area. The university has its own air- conditioned bus to transport students to- and- fro the campus. There are adequate on- campus health facilities to take care of any sudden emergencies. The university has also drafted in an “Earn While You Learn” scheme. This affords the students the chance to work along with their studies. It helps the economically weaker students, as well as the others in attaining crucial industry experience. Thanks to this university’s location right next to the commercial hub of Ahmedabad, securing these internships or jobs is not that big a challenge. Scholarships are also available based on both the requirements of the candidate as well as on academic merit. Ample cultural activities take place, to ensure students are well engaged within the university environment. There are conference facilities as well on offer for students to explore. Major events can be held here as there is ample sitting space. A reasonably adequate canteen is also there within campus to meet basic needs. 

The infrastructure, the welfare schemes and of course the focus on research and academics has pulled the university ahead when it comes to national rankings. The Central University of Gujarat finds itself within the 101-150 band among universities within the NIRF (National Institutional Rankings Framework) 2017. It has also been rated as AAA in the ratings provided by the Careers 360 magazine. The University of Gujarat has also been accredited by the NAAC (National Assessments and Accreditation Network).