The Mahatma Gandhi University was established on October 2nd 1983 by the Government of Kerala through an Act of the Legislative Assembly. It was formally inaugurated by Sri. Gyani Zail Singh the H.E, President of India on 26th the same month. The University is funded by the University Grants Commission and Government of Kerala. It is a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Spread over Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and some parts of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts, the M G University is the largest of the seven Universities in Kerala having affiliated colleges. Kottayam, the first town in India to achieve total literacy, has been playing a pioneering role for the spread of higher education in Kerala, a state that has achieved total literacy. Presently the University has 21 teaching and research departments/schools and 183 affiliated colleges, six information centres, three study centres and several campuses. The University Library is the first in Kerala, to set up the on-line information retrieval facility
Entire Revenue Districts of Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki and a few taluks of other Districts like Alapuzha (Kuttanad Taluk), Pathanamthitta District (Kozhancherry, Mallappally, Ranny and Tiruvalla Taluks).
The University campus is located at the Priyadarsini Hills which is 13 km away from Kottayam Railway Station and 4 km away from Ettumannoor. In order to reach the campus one should take deviation from Ettumannor or Gandhi Nagar (from M. C. Road).
The nearest airport is at Cochin (Nedumbassery) which is about 80 km away.
Mahatma Gandhi University has been able to become a role model in the Country in extension activities. The Kottayam Literacy Campaign, the first of its kind in India (1989 ) was a project of this University. The Nalpathimala Grama Vikas Kendra, within the University Campus, has evolved as a nationally accepted model for Campus-Community partnership, which won the first Indiara Gandhi NSS Award in 1993. The Vocational Rehabilitation Centre under the School of Behavioural Sciences has opened a new pathway in reaching the masses.
National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, University Students Union and College Union are very active, in chanalising the creativity sparks of the students. A full-fledged Students Service Department looks into the student amenities. The Employment and Guidance Bureau offers regular programmes for students to prepare for the UGC, NET, CSIR and other competitive Examinations.
The students have been consistently contributing to the image of the University through their outstanding performance in Inter University Youth Festivals, Sports, Games and Intellectual pursuits. Our sports stars, Mrs. Shiny Wilson, Mr. Manju Lal, and Ms. Chitra K. Soman were able to enter into the international athletic circuit and represented the Nation in the various Olympics.
Mahatma Gandhi University has honoured the famous Malayalam writers – the late Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai Shri. M.T. Vasudevan Nair , the Dada Saheb Phalke award winner and world-renowned film maker Shri. Adoor Gopalakrishnan with D.Litt. . Seminars, colloquiums and workshops of international stature is a regular feature in the University, besides hosting annual memorial lectures in honour of the late literators and scientists.
Mahatma Gandhi University has made a significant turn when Dr. Jancy James, assumed its charge on 16th November 2004, becoming the first woman Vice –Chancellor of the State.
These details have been retrieved from http://www.mguniversity.edu