The Nagland University was established by the Nagaland University Act, 1989 of the Parliament on 6th Sept. 1994. It is the only Central University in the State having three campuses, viz., Lumami Headquarters, Kohima and Medziphema. At present the University is functioning from its Kohima Campus as Interim Headquarters. The University is located in the tribal dominated State of Nagaland having borders with Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Myanmar (Burma on its long eastern stretch). Each Campus has its own administrative and academic unit to manage the day to day educational affairs.
“ The Objects of the University shall be to disseminate and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in any branches of learning whichever the university may deem fit ; to make provisions for integrated courses in humanities, natural and physical Sciences, Social disciplines in the educational programmes of the University by providing appropriate measures for promoting innovations in teaching-learning process, interdisciplinary studies and research; to educate and train man power for the development of the State of Nagaland; and to pay special attention towards improvement of the social and economic conditions and welfare of people of that state; their intellectual, academic and cultural development".
Nagaland University has 25 departments in its various campuses, viz., Lumami Hqrs. Has 7 departments: Botany, Chemistry, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Sociology and Zoology. Kohima campus has 6 departments: Commerce, Education, English, Geology, History and Archaeology. Medziphema has 12 departments: Agricultural Chemistry & Soil Sciences, Agricultural Economics & Statistics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension, Agronomy, Animal production & Management, Entomology, Genetics & Plant Breeding, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Rural Development & Planning and Soil Conservation. The University has started 4 centres on Tribal Studies, Bio-diversity, Mass Communication (IIMC-NU) and Gandhian Peace Studies.
The Nagaland University has been deputing students and faculty members for participating in National and International Conferences both in India and abroad. Socially relevant research have been undertaken and quality publication by faculty members are the indicators of excellence of the University, and has been assessed by NAAC for Quality Education. At present the University has about 50 Projects, which are under progress. The University has been publishing Research Journal, Newsletter and Students’ Magazine. It has published 4 books this year including two text books for the Undergraduate students published by Macmillan Publishers.
Nagaland University is an affiliating University. There are 48 colleges affiliated to this University from various parts of the State. About 20,000 Students are pursuing Under-graduate courses in colleges and 1500 students in various PG courses in the University. The University has been successfully coordinating and monitoring the quality of education in colleges. The University has also been identified as an affiliating University for Minority Educational Institution at all India basis.
Patkai Christian College affiliated to the University has been granted Autonomous status by the University Grants Commission in 2005. The Nagaland University in collaboration with various organs like State Government, UGC, NAAC and NGOs, has organized various workshops, seminars and training programmes in Nagaland. Recently, the University has organized national seminars on Geology and Energy Resources of North East India, Higher Education, Human values, Vice-Chancellor’s Meeting of North-East and J&K regions and vision 2020 for Nagaland. Nagaland University has also initiated Centre on Women’s Studies. It has been sanctioned an Institute of Engineering and Institute of Management by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and University Grants Commission. The DPR for the same has been prepared to start these courses. The University has convened the 2nd Convocation in March 2007. The President of India, His Excellency, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the Chief Guest.
The University has been sanctioned one Special Assistance Programme (SAP) to the Botany Department by the UGC and 3 FIST Programmes by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. It has been granted Botanical Garden and Fishery Training facilities by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Department of Biotechnology (DBT), by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi respectively. The Ministry of Social Justice has sanctioned two hostels for boys & girls of SC & ST categories at Lumami Headquarters.
The University has revised and implemented the curricula at the Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. It has organized workshops for college Principals on Examination Reforms. It has also introduced a course on Environmental Studies at Undergraduate level. The University has also introduced Rural Agriculture Work Experience (RAWE) Programme for the final year students of Agriculture. Under this Programme, the University has adopted villages namely; Zubza, Khonoma & Jotsoma to transfer Agricultural Technology through the Agriculture students and learn in return Indigenous Technology from the local farmers. The University has been granted the UGC-NET Examination Centre, which has been attracting student from neighbouring States. The concerted efforts for Quality Education has significantly improved the overall strength of students from 750 in the year 2001 to 1500 in the year 2006 and nearly 200 research students in the year 2006 from 50 in the year 2001. One Naga lady Lecturer in Gelogy (Dr. V. Sino) has been awarded best research paper by the ISCA and another lady Lecturer (Dr. U. Bora) in Chemistry, in-collaboration with IIT Guwahati, has been awarded 4 Patents from USA. The University has launched International collaboration with International Centre for Potato Research (CIP) to produce Quality Potato Seeds and make it available to the local farmers.
For the first time, a delegation of postgraduate students participated in the South Asian Regional Youth Convention. Their interaction with delegates from SAARC countries was very fruitful. A group of 16 PG students also participated in the International Folk Dance programme organized at Ghaziabad in December 2004. The PG Students of Lumami Campus also got awards during Youth Festival of Eastern Zone held at NEHU, Shillong during 2005. Students from various departments under the guidance of faculty members are conducting academic study tours to various universities and institutes of the country every year. The University also for the first time hosted the Inter-University Exchange programme supported by AIU.
A training for the staff members of the University was organized in the month of December, besides deputing the officers to various training programmes in December and February. The Department of Agricultural Economics (SASRD Campus) organized a computer course to enhance quality education. The Department also launched a PG programme in Agricultural Economics.
A delegation comprising of Prof. M.C. Sharma, Director and Dr. Jayashree, Deputy Director from IGNOU visited Nagaland University. An IGNOU programme on Library training for Library staff members of the State was also launched in collaboration with NU Library. The University in collaboration with INFLIBNET, Ahmedabad organized a five day training on Library automation and upgradation of skills and knowledge of Library Professionals in Computer and Information Technology. The University has been provided access to nearly 3000 E-Journals for the benefit of students and faculty members.
Last year, CAPART has recruited our graduates during Campus Interview at SASRD. The Institute of IAMR has also shown interest for campus recruitment. Visiting Professors from the University of Montreal, Canada and University of Connecticut, USA have delivered lectures and interacted with faculty and students of the University. Work on Networking of all the three campuses is under progress. For the first time the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, hosted a consultative meeting with the teachers, Principals and NGOs in February, 2005, to identify areas of research relevant to the state of Nagaland.
The PM’s package (Devegowda) and Non-lapsable Pool has been successfully implemented in 2004-05. The National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) has finalized the Master plan for infrastructure development at Lumami Headquarters under PM’s Economic Package (ABV). The Government of Nagaland has allotted 200 acres of land at Merema Village for Kohima Campus. The construction work has already been initiated.
