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Vikram Dev University
Other name	VDU
Former names	Jeypore College (till 1961) ; Vikram Deb Autonomous College (till 2023)
Motto	tamaso mā jyotirgamaya (Sanskrit)
Motto in English	"From darkness lead me to light"
Established	1947 (as College) ; 2023 (as University)
Founder	Maharaja Sri Vikram Deo Verma of Jeypore Kingdom
Accreditation	NAAC
Chancellor	Governor of Odisha
Vice-Chancellor	Prof. (Dr.) Devi Prasad Mishra
Academic staff	51
Location	Jeypore, Odisha, India
Campus	Urban, 25 acres (10 ha)
Youth Groups	NCC, YRC, NSS
Website	vikramdevuniversity.com

Vikram Dev University (formerly Vikram Deb Autonomous College) is a public state university located in the city of Jeypore, Koraput district in Odisha, that offers courses primarily at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It was established in 1947 by Maharaja of Jeypore Sri Vikram Dev IV or Vikram Deo Verma^[1]^[2] as Jeypore College and later named after him.

History

Foundation

As a part of welfare activities of the British-Indian government, on 1 July 1947 the government of Jeypore Estate (Orissa Province) under Maharaja Vikram Deo Verma started this institution of higher education at Jeypore as 'Jeypore College'. As a tribute to his philanthropy the college was renamed to 'Vikram Deb College' in 1961. The college was also upgraded to a first grade college from 1961 and undergraduate courses were started. Honours teaching provisions were made in 1968–73 and Post Graduate courses were started from 1979. The college was declared a lead college in 1991–92.

Upgradation and expansion (1961-2023)

In 1961, a significant milestone was achieved by Vikram Dev College as it was upgraded to a First Grade College.

To further broaden its academic offerings, the college introduced undergraduate classes in Science and Humanities streams in 1961 and 1963, respectively. This expansion allowed students to pursue a wide range of disciplines and facilitated their holistic development.

Recognizing the importance of specialized knowledge and advanced studies, the college implemented honors teaching between 1968 and 1973. This step aimed to provide students with a deeper understanding of their chosen subjects and promote research-oriented learning.

In 1979, Vikram Dev College took a significant leap forward with the initiation of post-graduate studies in the Department of History. This move provided a platform for aspiring scholars to engage in in-depth research and contribute to the field of academia.

Building upon the success of the post-graduate program in History, the college expanded its offerings in subsequent years. Post-graduate studies were introduced in Economics, Commerce, and Political Science in 1983 and 1990, respectively. These programs enriched the academic landscape of the college and attracted students with a passion for these disciplines.

Recognizing the need to provide comprehensive education from the early stages, in 1983, Vikram Dev College introduced higher secondary streams in Arts, Science, and Commerce. This development allowed students to pursue their desired subjects right from their higher secondary education, fostering a seamless transition into higher studies.

The year 1993-94 witnessed another milestone in the college's journey as post-graduate studies in Chemistry were initiated.

In response to heavy demand from students, academics, and the general public, the college was declared as an affiliating university by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, on 2 February 2023.^[3]^[4] This declaration took place one day before the college's platinum jubilee celebration, signifying not only its remarkable history but also its commitment to fostering higher education and academic growth in the region. The university came into function from 1 June 2023.^[5]^[6]

Affiliated colleges

The university has jurisdiction over 4 districts namely Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada of Odisha. Earlier the jurisdiction of these districts presided over by Berhampur University.^[7]