Kumaun University (KU)
Partner description
Kumaun University, a residential-cum-affiliating university, came into existence in the year 1973. The University Grants Commission, New Delhi granted recognition to the University under section 12-B of the UGC Act, 1956 and its name appears at serial No. 177. The academic wing of the University is spread over in three sprawling campuses located in Almora, Nainital and Bhimtal towns of Kumaon region with an area of 5,31,373 sq metres (160 acres), the total built up area being 3,00,000 sq. metres. Forty Government Colleges under the administrative control of the State Government and 49 self-financed institutes managed by the private managements, spread over in six districts of Kumaon region are affiliated with the University. It is the biggest State University of state (Uttarakhand) which caters the need of about 1,50,000 students by providing a high quality educational experience in diverse learning environments and promoting the values and institutions of democracy that prepare students to lead lives of personal integrity and civic responsibility in a transforming global society.
The University is famous for building and promoting a system, which is accessible to people of diversified faiths, races, creeds and cultures and is striving hard for excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the areas of local to global priorities. Efforts to galvanize the academic fervour and creative instincts of the youth coming from socially and economically underdeveloped areas, to strengthen the interface of academia with the government and industry and prepare the next generations of skilled and ethical professionals to compete in a diverse world market are always undertaken. The University is committed to raise and internationalize the academic standard of its campuses and 93 affiliated colleges and institutes. For the last some years the University has made untiring efforts to develop some well recognized departments of scientific and social research and these have been attracting faculty members and students from different parts of the country.
The Department of Geography of Kumaun University is one of the oldest university departments in the State of Uttarakhand. During the recent years, the department has emerged as one of the premier centres of in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System applications in environmental impact assessment and sustainable mountain development, and training, in the entire state of Uttarakhand. The department has been pioneering in implementing major research and development projects funded by apex funding agencies, such as, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment, Department of Space (Government of India) on: (i) Climate change impact and adaptation, environmental impact assessment on society and human health (ii) water and health issues (iii) environment and nutrition, (iv) integrated watershed management, (iv) natural resource management, (iii) disaster management, (iv) ecological modelling of high mountain ecosystems, (v) development of natural resources information system , (vi) land use change monitoring. Besides, the department is also collaborating in international project with several European and Asian institutions of excellence.