Raiganj University is the foremost university in West Bengal. As per Raiganj University Act (West Bengal Act XXVI of 2014) the University was established on 3rd February 2015. It is located at the district headquarter of Uttar Dinajpur i.e. Raiganj in West Bengal, India. This University was established by upgrading a state aided under-graduate college namely ‘RAIGANJ COLLEGE [UNIVERSITY COLLEGE]’ into a University. It is the first Unitary University in North Bengal which offers both under-graduate and post-graduate courses in its own Campus. In this University there are 22 departments at the undergraduate level, 23 departments in Post-graduate level and 17 departments offer Ph.D. & M.Phil. Courses running in full swing. This University also offers General Courses at the under-graduate level in its own campus in the morning and evening i.e. in two shifts. The scope of Raiganj University has been widened with manifold research activities including M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes. Raiganj University intended to be Centre of Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Research.
This University is included in the 2(f) and 12 (b) clause of the UGC Act. 1954 which confers the right to the University to receive funds from the Govt. of India.
The Campus sprawls over 13.62 acres of land, which contains Departments, Administrative Buildings, Canteen, Pond, Guest-house, Playground, a Garden of rare medicinal plants and a mulberry garden. This University received another land from the State Government measuring 11.19 acres at Raiganj, of just 3 km from the University. The second Campus of the University will be started in a very short period of time.
Several academic Centres of the University have been declared to be ‘Centres of Excellence’. These are the Centre for Folklore Studies, the Centre for Buddhist Studies, the Centre for Women’s Studies, the Environment Conservation Centre, the Business Incubation and Innovation Centre, the centre for Differently Abled Students.
The present student strength of the University is 12600, which includes overseas students, students from adjacent districts and states. At present Raiganj University is having 90 permanent teachers of whom 58 have Ph.D. and 11 have M. Phil. Degrees. There are Visting Professors, Guest Teachers and Part Time teachers who are dedicated and contributing immensely for the development of the students. Research and teaching mutually complement each other. Teachers are actively engaged in basic and applied research in their respective field and getting research grants from UGC. Active research works have been reflected in the publication of plenty of quality papers by the faculty members in National and International journals. The University encourages teachers to participate in conferences, workshops, seminars and attend refresher and orientation courses to enrich their academic abilities. There are officers, permanent technical staff, administrative staff and non-teaching staff in the University who are dedicated to the University.
A huge number of Ph.D. and M.Phil. Scholars are getting Govt. Scholarship from the Government of West Bengal and from UGC. Eligible faculties of the University are also getting fellowship like “INSPIRE fellowship”, “ICSSR fellowship” etc. The University carries out its extension activities and outreach programmes through its teaching departments, NSS and NCC units. The teachers are assigned these activities in addition to their normal duties. Environmental Awareness, Adult Education and Literacy, Health and Hygiene Awareness, Blood Donation Camps and Medical Camps etc are also conducted. The University library has more than 61598 Volumes of text and reference books, 51 journals/ periodicals and magazines and it subscribes to 7 leading daily newspapers. There is a reading room attached to the library. At present Central Library of the University is going to be digitalized and such related work is in full swing. The University has facilities for sports. It has a playground for games like football, cricket, volleyball, etc. The University has an indoor gymnasium for the students & staff. There is a medical officer for the students who attends them on working days and also in case of emergency.
The Raiganj University runs with the financial support of the Government of West Bengal. University situated in a remote border area has a special role to play in spreading education amongst backward and economically weaker sections of the population. Hence the University directly supports financially the backward and economically weaker students. Raiganj University is rapidly developing under the able leadership of Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Teachers, Officers and non-teaching staff who work in close association for developing the full potential of the University in achieving its mission and goal.
