Dibrugarh University is a collegiate public state university in the Indian state of Assam. It is the second oldest University in North East India and Assam, and is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and Association of Indian Universities. It is located at Dibrugarh, Assam, India. It was set up on 1 July 1965 under the provisions of the Dibrugarh University Act, 1965 enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly. Bhoj Raj Seth, a mathematician of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, was appointed as its first Vice-Chancellor at the initiative of the then Education Minister of Assam, Dev Kant Barooah.
The university comprises 17 Department, Dibrugarh University Institute of Engineering and Technology, 16 centre of studies within the 7 distinct Faculty of Studies via an ordinance passed on 17 July 2019 vide Resolution No. 44 and an exclusive Centre for Distance and Online Education. As of September 2022, the university also hosts 177 affiliated colleges and institutes that spread over ten districts of Assam. The university is recognised by University Grants Commission.
Location
The Dibrugarh University Campus is located at Rajabheta, Dibrugarh city and is spread over an area of 500 acres. The NH15 (old NH37) bisects the main campus from the other, the latter primarily comprising teacher's and officer's residence. The university is well connected by rail, road and air. The nearest airport is Dibrugarh Airport (DIB) which is approximately 19 km away, the district bus terminal is 5.5 km away and most often travellers can avail pick-up from the university gate itself where waiting facility has been made by the university administration. The city houses two railway stations Dibrugarh Town railway station (DBRT) which is 4.7 km away and Dibrugarh railway station (DBRG) which is 6.5 km from the university. The university is well connected by roads with Bogibeel Bridge connecting the districts in the northern banks of the river Brahmaputra facilitating student mobility for their higher studies.
The region is well known for its vast mineral resources (including oil, natural gas and coal). Government companies Oil India Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited, Digboi Refinery (IOCL),Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, North Eastern Coalfields (CIL) Gas Authority of India Limited, Assam Gas Company Limited operate within 100 km radius of the university encouraging scholars for studies of Earth Sciences, and Engineering especially on Petroleum.
The region is also well known for its flora and fauna. Apart from presence of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, well known for its Feral horses, Dehing Patkai National Park, Jokai Reserve Forest, the region is fertile for agriculture with rice, sugarcane and pulses being the major crops facilitated by the presence of Brahmaputra. The entire district is full of Tea Plantations, initially, tea was homegrown by Singpho Tribe, later commercially initiated by Maniram Dewan in the region. In 2007, the university started its Centre for Tea and Agro Studies which attracts students aspiring to join the Tea Industry.
The diverse tribes with their distinct dialects, customs, traditions and culture make this area attractive to students of anthropology and sociology, art and culture.
Accreditation
Dibrugarh university is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, with a 'B++' Grade in 2023. which is valid for a period of five years. The UG programme of the university Bachelor of Physical Education is recognized by National Council for Teacher Education. Moreover, all the courses conducted by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences are approved by the PCI and the AICTE. All the UG engineering programmes run by the university in Dibrugarh University Institute of Engineering and Technology are also approved by the AICTE.
Dibrugarh University is UGC recognized and also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Moreover, it is also a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
Faculty of Humanities and Law
Department of Assamese
The Department of Assamese was established in 1967. The department offers Ph.D., M.Phil. and two year Post Graduate Programmes. The department has designed the whole course structure by incorporating the contemporary trend and tendencies of the global literary and linguistic scenario. The department also owns a Cultural Museum containing various art and artifices from different tribes and communities of the whole North-Eastern region.
Department of English
The Department of English was established in 1967, with specific purpose of imparting post-graduate studies in English literature leading to M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. degrees and to chart the courses at the Major and General Degree level of the affiliated colleges. The Department's studies in English literature are not confined to the literature of the British Tales written in the English language. It includes select European, American, African and Indian Writing in English.
Centre for Studies in Language
The Centre for Studies in Language offers M.A., Diploma, and Certificate Programme. The Centre for Studies in Language has collaborative programme with Kasetsart University, Bangkok Thailand. The Institute of Tai Studies and Research, Moranhat affiliated to the university is also conducting two courses viz. One year Post Graduate Diploma in Tai Language course Three Months Certificate Course in Spoken Tai.
Centre for Studies in Philosophy
Centre for Studies in Philosophy was started in July 2009. Since then it has expanded its activities to provide philosophical foundations to acquaint students with various fields of Philosophy such as Epistemology (Indian & Western), Metaphysics (Indian & Western), Ethics, Logic, Philosophy of Religion, Social & Political Philosophy etc. The Centre initially started offering M.A. programmes later started offering Ph.D. programme since 2010.
Centre for Juridical Studies
The Centre for Juridical Studies was established in the year 2006 offering 5 Year Integrated BA.LL.B. Degree. It also offers Audit Course on Intellectual Property Rights for students pursuing a regular degree in Dibrugarh University.
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Centre for studies in Performing Arts
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Centre for Studies in Performing Arts (earlier known as Centre for Performing Arts) was established in 2008 to impart quality education and research, both theoretically and practically in the field of Performing Arts. Besides offering graduate and post-graduate programmes in Theatre Art and Vocal Music, it is the only centre in the entire north-east offering graduate and post-graduate programme in ‘Sattriya Dance’ (500 years old traditional dance form recognized by the Sangeet Natak Academi of India as a classical dance form).
Faculty of Social Sciences Department of History
The Department of History was established in 1967. The department offers Ph.D., M.Phil. and Two-year Post-Graduate programmes. It has also introduced compulsory papers such as Gender History, Environmental History etc. to make the students acquainted with the latest areas of research. The major thrust areas of the department are political, social, cultural, and religious history, history of environment, ethnicity, and gender history.
Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science was established in 1967. The department offers Ph.D., and Two-year Post-Graduate programmes. The thrust areas of the department includes Democracy, Human Rights and Peace Studies, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social Movement and Strategic Studies specific to the North Eastern Region and the Southeast Asia.
Department of Sociology
The Department of Sociology was established in 1967. It is the first department of sociology in this region. The department offers Ph.D., M.Phil. and Two-year Post-Graduate programmes. Department of Sociology has also played a key role in the establishment of The Centre for Social Work Studies in the 2010–11 academic session for teaching Post Graduate programmes in Master of Social Work (MSW). The department has been publishing “The North Eastern Research Bulletin”, an ISSN Referred Journal since 1970.
Department of Economics
The Department of Economics was established in 1967. The department offers Post Doc., Ph.D., M.Phil. and Two-year Post-Graduate programmes. The teachers of the department are reputed for conducting studies and consultancy projects for various bodies including the Finance Commission, government departments, PSUs and other institutes. The department has been annually publishing "Assam Economic Journal", a peer-reviewed research journal.
Centre for Social Work Studies
The Centre for Social Work Studies(CSWS) was established in 2010. The Centre is offers Masters's Programme in Social Work with two specializations, viz. Community Development Human Resource Management
Centre for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication
The Centre for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication was established in 2008. The Centre offers two master programmes M.A in Mass Communication (MAMC) course with a provision for specialization in print, electronic, new media and public affairs and a mandatory internship programme M.A. in Communication for Sanitation, Hygiene and Health (CSH&H) in collaboration with UNICEF.
Centre for Women's Studies
The Centre for Women's Studies is UGC approved Women's Studies Centres in the country and second such centre in the north-east region of India. It was established as a centre in 1998 with a UGC grant under the IX Plan and received the approval of UGC in November 2004. The centre currently offers M.A. programme in women's studies. The centre has also facilitated the setting up of 43 women's studies cells in various colleges affiliated to the university. The centre has collaborated with Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India, National Commission for Women, State Commission for Women, Indian Association for Women's Studies, UNICEF, and various NGOs for various endeavours of the centre.
UGC Centre for Studies on Bangladesh and Myanmar
Faculty of Education Department of Education
The Department of Education was established on 20 September 1965. It started with a teacher-training course called Bachelor of Teaching (B.T). Till 1968 the department was known as the ‘Institute of Education’ and from 1968 it came to be known as the Department of Education with the same B.T. course. In 1969, the department was shifted to its permanent Rajabheta Campus. The B.T. course was renamed as the B.Ed. course with effect from 1981 to 1982 session. In 1987, the Science stream in the B.Ed. course was introduced, heralding a new beginning for the Department. The department was raised to the status of "College of Teacher Education" (CTE) from 1 September 1989.
The department introduced the M.Ed. Course from 1 September 1989 and four years later the liberal academic course of M.A. in Education was also initiated from the session 1992-93. The Department of Education has been upgraded to a full-fledged Post–Graduate Department at present. Thus the Department of Education conducts three postgraduate programmes in education, viz. B.Ed., M.Ed. and M.A. in education, besides the Ph.D. course work.
Centre for Studies in Physical Education and Sports
The Centre for Studies in Physical Education and Sports was introduced in 2009-2010, It was aimed at imparting the knowledge of games and sports and physical well-being to produce competent professionals, expert and executors in implementation of current methods and techniques of physical education and sports to the society. The centre offers Bachelor of Physical Education which is NCTE recognized.
Centre for Studies in Applied Psychology