Mangalore University may lose 24 UG colleges due to Kodagu University

MANGALURU: Mangalore University (MU) may lose 24 undergraduate colleges, when a new university is established in Kodagu.
Last week, the Karnataka legislative assembly passed a bill amending the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000, (Karnataka Act 29 of 2001), to constitute eight new universities, including Kodagu University, which will be bifurcated from MU.
MU’s jurisdiction is spread over Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The Kodagu jurisdiction of MU, which is situated about 150km from the varsity administration, is both different in geographical area, and cultural aspects. K S Chandrashekharaiah, director of Jnana Kaveri Post Graduate Centre, Chikka Aluvara, said the Kodagu University administration office is likely to be on the Chikka Aluvara campus.
“Once bifurcated, MU will lose 24 colleges. Meanwhile, the new Kodagu University will have about 10 colleges, that currently come under the University of Mysore. The majority of the students from this region either have to move to Mysuru or Mangaluru for postgraduate studies. This can be avoided if the Chikka Aluvara campus launches in-demand and job-oriented courses,” he said.
Field Marshal K M Cariappa College is the oldest and biggest college. The current Chikka Aluvara campus has about 70 acres of land, and Madikeri MLA M P Appachu Ranjan has requested the government to add about 200 acres or more, to the existing campus.
P S Yadapadithaya, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University, maintained that so far they have not officially received a circular from the state government on the new university in Kodagu. “I have learnt about Kodagu University through the news. Therefore, I will not comment on anything about Kodagu University, which will lead to confusion,’’ he said.
“The varsity in Kodagu will have many advantages for future students, and they will avoid travelling to Mangalore University for official academic work,” said a final-year BCom student, studying at FMKMC College, Madikeri.
New universities announced recently are Bagalkot University, Koppal University, Mandya University, Chamarajanagar University, Bidar University, Haveri University, Kodagu University and Hassan University.