Centre for Continuing / Adult Education & Community Services

BACKGROUND

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is renowned as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in India and abroad. Since its inception in 1949, it has strived to achieve academic excellence in diverse disciplines. The leadership position of the University is borne out by the recognition of several departments for special assistance from premier funding agencies like the University Grants Commission, Ford Foundation, AICTE, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, UNICEF etc. The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is the only English-medium and residential university in the state of Gujarat with a cosmopolitan character, reflected in the composition of its teaching and student community. The University offers advanced research facilities, a wide choice of disciplines and courses that cater to the needs of the society and the economy.

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda has blossomed from the Baroda College – one of the oldest centers of learning in western India - established by the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1881. The idea of establishing a separate university for Baroda was mooted by Maharaja Sayajirao as early as 1909. After deliberations and recommendations by different committees, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda came into existence on April 30, 1949 at the time of the merger of the Baroda State with the state of Bombay.

The rich legacy of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is crowned by the names of stalwarts like Shri Aurobindo, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Prof. S. Radhakrishnan, Shri K. M. Munshi, Prof. M. N. Srinivas, Justice N. H. Bhagwati, Dr. I. G. Patel, Prof. Rajni Kothari, Prof. T. K. N. Menon, Prof. Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Shri Uma Shankar Joshi and many others.

The University campus, spread over 275 acres, is dotted with several beautiful buildings and heritage structures. The University today caters to the educational needs of more than 35,000 students who are imparted knowledge by 1203 teachers. 1817-strong administrative staff provides valuable support to the academic activities. The University also has vast infrastructure in the form of equipments, laboratories, libraries and other facilities for smooth conduct of teaching and research activities. With a strong interface with the industry and placement cells in different Faculties, the students of the university are employed in some of the best organizations in India and abroad. Recently, the University has also entered into Memoranda of Understanding with prestigious universities abroad such as Oxford, South Florida, and Penn University etc.

From humble beginnings with six Faculties, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda has witnessed phenomenal growth in the last fifty years. Today, the number of Faculties has grown to 13, which includes Faculties of:

Besides the Faculties, the University administers following colleges and institutes:

Teaching and research take place in 86 academic departments organized under Faculties and colleges. All the departments in the university enjoy a fair degree of academic autonomy.

Being residential in character, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda has a different administrative and academic structure than most other universities. The University has no affiliated colleges. The courses from undergraduate to doctoral degree are taught and guided by the same group of teaching faculties in the respective departments.

CENTRAL FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

The University maintains several central facilities for the benefit of students and teachers and has been providing important support to the academic functions of the university.

University library is one of the largest libraries in Asia. It maintains an E-resource centre and provides access to electronic materials. Besides this library, several Faculties and Departments also have their own libraries. The university library system has over 700,000 books, besides scores of periodical volumes.
The campus is well connected through fiber optic backbone and internet connectivity made possible by strong alumni support.
Comprehensive hostel system (13 Halls of Residence for boys and 4 for girl students)
500 on-campus housing facility for teaching and non-teaching staff
Well-equipped Computer Centre
Health Centre with adequate facilities and staff
State-of-the-art printing press
Physical education department with a sports complex

General Education Centre with an air-conditioned auditorium