Panjab University, Chandigarh : A Profile

Panjab University is one of the oldest reputed universities in northwest India. The university is located in Chandigarh. The university is located at Sector-14, Chandigarh. The Panjab University was established in 1882 and then moved to Chandigarh in 1956. The origins of Panjab University can be traced to the pre-partition University of the Punjab in Lahore (now in Pakistan), founded in 1882 as the fourth teaching and affiliating University in South Asia under the British Raj (after the Universities of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras). Following the Partition of India, Lahore became a part of Pakistan and a separate twin Panjab University was moved to Chandigarh in 1956. Currently its one of the most reputed university in India. With extensive placements for almost all the students.

Mission of the University

"The University has been incorporated for the purposes, among others, of making provision for imparting education in Arts, Letters, Science and the learned professions and of furthering advancement of learning, the prosecution of original research, with power to appoint University Professors, Readers and Lecturers, to hold and manage educational endowments, to erect, equip and maintain University colleges, libraries, laboratories and museums, to make regulations relating to the residence and conduct of students and to do all such acts as tend to promote study and research".

History and Present Infrastructure

Panjab University has a long tradition of pursuing excellence in teaching and research in science and technology, humanities, social sciences, performing arts and sports. The University support excellence and innovation in academic programmes. Promotes excellence in research, scholarship and teaching and is committed to attracting and supporting the best students and recruiting faculty who excel at teaching and research. For more than a century, it has served various societal needs with distinction. The glorious traditions of the University, established during the period of more than 125 years of its long service to the nation and since its inception in 1882 at Lahore (now in Pakistan), are a source of inspiration for the present generation of faculty members and students. By virtue of its age, experience, achievements and philosophy, the Panjab University is a University of national character and stature, in so far as it has drawn both its faculty and students from all over the country and abroad. Its faculty includes some of the most distinguished scientists and academicians in arts and humanities. The University continues to attract celebrated scholars from abroad to visit and interact with the faculty and students. Over the years the reputation of Panjab University has grown into one of innovative teaching research and community outreach.

After the partition in 1947, the University was constrained to function for almost a decade without having a campus of its own. The administrative office was located at Solan and the teaching departments functioned from Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Delhi and Amritsar. It was in 1956 that the University was relocated at Chandigarh. Its red sandstone campus, designed by renowned French architects, came up within a few years. The University campus was designed by Pierre Jeanerette under the general guidance of the legendary Le Corbusier. Till the re-organisation of Punjab in 1966, the University had its regional centers at Rohtak, Shimla, Jalandhar and its affiliated colleges were located in the state of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and U.T. of Chandigarh.

With the re-organisation of Punjab, the University became an Inter-State Body Corporate catering to the newly organised states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and U.T. of Chandigarh. Gradually, the colleges of Himachal and Haryana were affiliated to the universities in the respective states and the Panjab University was left with the affiliated colleges in U.T. of Chandigarh and some parts of Punjab. Presently, the U.T. administration of Chandigarh and the state Govt. of Punjab share the maintenance deficit of the University in the ratio of 60:40, respectively.

The annual budget estimates of the University amount to Rs.131.79 crores for 2006-2007.

Panjab University, with its 46 teaching and research departments besides 10 Centres/Chairs for teaching and research on the main campus located at Chandigarh, has 150 affiliated colleges spread over Punjab and Chandigarh, Regional Centres at Muktsar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Department of Vishweshavaranand Vishva Bandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies (VVBIS&IS) at Hoshiarpur.

The main campus at Chandigarh is spread over 550 acres in sectors 14 and 25, the sector 14 having the main academic and administrative buildings, besides a health centre, a sports complex, hostels and residential area.

The Central A.C. Joshi Library of Panjab University has a holding of over 6 lac books and 1.5 lac periodicals some of which are rare collections from the 19th century. The University Library has been recognised as one of the six national centres for data-information-distribution in the UGC?s INFLIBNET programme. The library works provide services which most effectively meet the needs of faculty, students and staff of the University community. Our book and journal collection is augmented by a variety of online sources.

The Indian Council of Social Science Research has set-up its North-Western Regional Centre on the Panjab University Campus. The Centre runs a library, a seminar complex and a guesthouse for visiting scholars under its study-grants programme.

The Gandhi Bhawan on the university campus attracts scholars as well as tourists from all over the world for its magnificent architectural structure, its library and auditorium.

The Panjab University has four museums and the department of Indian theatre has its own theatre lab, which is unique in the country. The university has a Botanical Garden and a Garden of Medicinal Plants on the campus.

The office of the Panjab University Students? Council is located in the Student Centre. The student centre is the hub of students? activities?academic, cultural, social and political. The Students? Council consists of the departmental representatives and other office bearers i.e. President, Vice-President, Secretary and Joint-Secretary directly elected by the students from the various teaching departments on the campus. The Dean Student Welfare is ex-officio Chairman of the Council. The Students? Council organises youth festivals, both national and international, academic debates, literary and cultural events and educational tours.

Recognizing the excellence in teaching and research, the UGC and more recently DST, have recognized a large number of departments under various Programmes such as SAP/DRS, COSIST, CAS and FIST, respectively. The departments covered under various UGC and DST programmes are:

SAP: Anthropology, Botany, University Business School, Education, Geography, Geology, Political Science (Geo-Politics), University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philosophy, Statistics, Sociology and Zoology.

COSIST: Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, Zoology.

CAS: Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics

FIST: Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Microbiology, University Centre of Instrumentation & Microelectronics, Chemical Engineering and Technology Statistics, Physics, Geology and Biophysics.

The University has been recently selected by the UGC as the "University with Potential for Excellence in Bio-Medical Sciences.? Initial Grant of Rs. 5 crore has been released by the UGC under the scheme.

Earlier, the University was identified as one of the six centres in the country for super-computing facilities to serve the entire north-western region in Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), DST. The Government of India has also identified the University as a Special Centre. The university takes pride in having been able to provide Internet connection for more than 1000 terminals for the use of faculty members and students. All the buildings of the university including hostels are connected through ATM and Gigabit technology. The university has distinction of extending Wi-fi facilities to students in their hostel at specified locations. The university has extensively used its website www.puchd.ac.in in providing information to students and the general public.

The University also has a DST supported Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre along with Central Instrumentation Laboratory (CIL) and University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) to serve the scientific community on the campus and in the region. The Centre for Industry Institute Partnership Programme (CIIPP) has been active in promoting formal and effective academic-industry interface.

The University has a coaching centre for training for IAS examination and allied services as well as other competitive examinations. The ministry of Social Welfare, Govt. of India has sanctioned a grant of Rs. 4.1 lacs for the Coaching Centre to provide training to the SC/ST candidates.

During the last five years, the University has started the process of networking of the campus and completed it successfully. Having been identified by the DST as one of the six centres in the country, the University has set up super-computing facilities to meet the needs of the laboratories and industry in the north-west India.

The Energy Research Centre was established in 1983 at Panjab University to promote R&D and Extension activities in the emerging field of Renewable Energy. It has emerged as a major focal point of R&D and extension on energy and environment at national and international level. Pioneering work in the area of solar thermal energy Storage, Solar Detoxification, Biomethanation of agricultural/industrial/forest wastes, Biomass combustion and gasification, Indoor Air Quality, Energy and Environmental Conservation and Management and Hydrodynamics of Polymeric Solutions is being carried out at the Centre. The Energy Research Centre has professional contacts with a number of reputed International Institutes such as University of Florida, USA, University of Cincinnati, USA, SRI International USA, and Lakehead University Canada etc. A number of students from developing and developed countries have undergone training in the area of energy and environment at the Centre. The faculty of the center has won a number of International Fellowships and the national awards for their pioneering work. The Centre has also helped the states of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, U.T. Chandigarh, J&K State, and North Eastern states in solving problems associated with energy planning & management and Environmental protection.

The University was also chosen for participating in the project, International Collaboration for Research for elementary particles and the large Hodron Collider (LHC) CERN, Geneva CMS Experiment with a Government of India grant of Rs. 2.49 Crores. A large number of faculty members were sanctioned Major Research Projects by the UGC and other agencies.

The university takes all necessary steps to achieve close working relationship with other universities in order to cooperate on exchange programmes.

The University has an International Exchange Programme with Sweden under the auspices of European Law Students? Association (ELSA), an Exchange Programme with the British Council in the field of Public Administration. The University also has International Exchange Programme with the universities of Manotoba and Kyrghyzstan as well as Simon Fraser University, Canada. The university has the office of the Dean of Foreign Students which looks after the academic affairs of overseas students from over 15 countries. The Dean?s office is in constant touch with educational organization around the world to identify suitable students for various courses taught at the University. Working directly with the Regional Director of ICCR, the Dean helps to facilitate the admission of foreign students. Cross-cultural experience provides opportunities to lay the ground work for regional cooperation.

The University received a substantial donation of Rs. 1.75 Crores for the construction of Aruna Ranjit Chandra Hall from Dr. R. Chandra, an alumni of the University. The university has recently started Dr. H. S Judge Institute of Dental Studies at its south campus in Sector 25. Dr. Harvnash Singh Judge and Mr. Pawan Bansal, MP (Lok Sabha) provided grants worth crores of rupees. The first batch of BDS students has already been admitted in the session of 2006-07.

The University has been doing its best to restructure its existing courses, start new courses, undertake research projects and initiate new policies to meet the new challenges emerging from rapidly changing technological, socio-economic and educational environment. The University hopes to generate an academically vibrant environment through inter-disciplinary lectures/seminars which will go a long way in giving an impetus to major structural changes in the courses taught at the University as well as promoting an active participation in the cultural pattern of our society. The University has introduced many new courses in emerging areas and vocational studies during the last few years. These include courses such as M. Tech. in Microelectronics, Nano Technology and nano science, Master's in Business Economics, Master's in E-Commerce, Honours School in Computer Science on the Campus and B.B.A. and B.C.A. in the affiliated colleges. The UGC has given a grant of Rs. 1 Crore to start academic programmes and research activities in Genomic Studies and M.Sc. (Human Genomics) has been started from the academic year 2002.

The University has set up the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) from the academic session 2002-2003, University Institute of Legal Studies from 2004-05, Swami Sarvanand Giri PU regional Center at Hoshiarpur for Engineering courses from session 2006-07.

Information Bureau

The University Employment Information & Guidance Bureau provides employment information and advice to University alumni. There is also a unit of information and Advisory Bureau that guides students in regard to their studies abroad.

Halls of Residence

The Panjab University offers 7 hostels for about 2,000 men students and 6 women's hostels accommodating about 1500 students.

Health Services

The university has on the campus a health centre. It has six full time Medical Officers comprising of General Practioners; a medical specialist, a surgeon, a dentist and an Ayurvedic Physician. Besides these, there are four part time specialists in the areas of Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Opthalmology and radiology & three part time General Practioners.

Sports

The University has playgrounds, a gymnasium and a swimming pool of high standard for its sports activities. Recently, the University has been awarded Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) trophy for the year 2004-05.

Details of courses being offered on the University Campus/ Regional Centers.

Ph.D. Courses: University Offers Ph.D. in following disciplines:

Centre for Women Studies, Defence Studies, Economics, Gandhian Studies, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Chinese/ Tibetan, English, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Russian, Urdu/ Persian, Anthropology, Bio-Chemistry, Bio-Physics, Bio- Technology, Chemistry, Computer Science & Applications, Computer Science and Engineering, Chem. Eng. And Tech. Environmental Studies, Geology, Microbiology, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, History of Arts, Indian Theatre and Music.Lib. and Information sciences.

Postgraduate, graduate and diploma courses
1.	M.Phil.	Economics, Gandhian Studies, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Women/Gender Studies, English, Guru Granth Sahib Studies, Punjabi, Physical Education, Music, Botany, Physics, Statistics and Zoology.
2.	B.E.:	Chemical , Food Technology, Biotechnology , Electronics & Communication Engg. , Information Technology, Computer Science & Engg. , Mechanical Engg. , Electrical and electronics Engg Also at Swamy Sarvanad Giri PU Regional Center, Hoshiarpur
3.	M.Tech /ME :	Instrumentation , Microelectronics , Nanoscience & Nanotechnology . Polymer (Full time + Part time), Chemical, Electronic and Communication Engg.
4.	Other Professional undergraduate and postgraduate courses	BDS, LL.B, LL.M., B.Pharma, M.Pharma, M.Lib. & Information Science, M.A.Physical Education, M.B.A.(Executive) Regional Centres Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar: LL.B,.M.B.A , MCA, B.A. Hons (Education) B.Ed.
5.	B.Sc, M.Sc. (Hons. School)	Biochemistry , Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science & Applications, Microbiology and Zoology, Anthropology, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Geology, Mathematics, Physics
6.	Master's Courses (M.Sc and M.A)	Biotechnology, Human Genomics, Environment Sciences Mathematics, Statistics, Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Defence and National Security Studies, Economics, Education, French, Geography, German, Hindi, History, Panjabi, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Urdu, M.Ed., M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling), M.Ed. (Educational Technology). M.A. English, Gandhian and Peace Studies, History of Art, Indian Theatre, Music (Instrumental + Vocal), Sanskrit. Mass Communication and Journalism(2 yr. course). M.Com.(E-commerce), Solid waste Management, medical physics, Police Administration, Social Work, Human Rights and Duties, Masters in Public Health, Nuclear Medicine.
7.	Certificate Courses	Chinese, French, Functional Panjabi, German, Persian, Russian, Tibetan, Urdu.
8.	Diploma Courses	Chinese, French, Forensic Science and Criminology (Anthropology Dept.) , German, Panjabi Language and Culture, Persian, Russian, Tibetan, Translation English to Hindi, Translation English to Panjabi, Diploma in Translation (French) and Urdu.
9.	Advanced Diploma Courses	Chinese, French, German, Proficiency in Interpretership for Tibetan, Persian Russian and Urdu.
10.	Postgraduate Diploma Courses	Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems . Regional Centre Ludhiana: Postgraduate Diploma in Export Management.
11.	Department of Evening Studies	B.A. B.Com. M.A. English, Economics, History and Political Science.
12.	Post-M.Sc. Courses	Post-M.Sc. Course in Accelerator Physics, Advanced Scientific Computation (Physics Department)

Distance/Correspondence Education

The present study programmes consist of the following courses : Bachelor of Arts (Three Year Integrated Course), Bachelor of Commerce (Three Year Course), Bachelor of Library & Information Science (One Year Course).

Master of Arts (annual system) in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology.

Master of Commerce ( Two Year Course, Annual System), Master of Finance & Control (MFC) (Two Year Course). Master of Education (M. Ed.) (For in-service teachers) (Two year Course).

Diploma in (i) Post Graduate Diploma in Health, Family Welfare and Population Education (ii) Diploma in Statistics, (iii) One Year? Post-Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication (iv) Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications. Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.). Certificate Course in Vivekananda Studies.

Over the years there has been a steady progressive improvement in various areas of teaching and research and Panjab University has been playing a leading role in the academic life of our society and has been one of India?s premier universities. The level of participation we expect and the assignment we set reflect the high standard of the University. Its growth and development can be traced from its notable beginnings to today?s eminence and tomorrow?s aspirations. The University history and its distinctive qualities in areas of teaching and supervision indicates in more ways than one the contribution it has made to the intellectual life of generations of students both from India and abroad.