Institutional Distinctiveness

Our University is located in Maoist affected area in Junglemahal. This area is dominated by tribal people, where a large number of students are 1st generation learners. Vidyasagar University is trying to rehabilitate people affected by Maoist activism without altering their social and cultural life worlds.

• The Department of English, for example, has formed a platform under the aegis of the UGC sponsored SAP, DRS II project, to document, conserve and showcase the languages and cultural texts of the destitute indigenous populations of the area. It has not only created a significant digital archive called Janalipi to disseminate and popularize the distinctive nuances of the languages and cultures of the tribal people, but has also initiated a collaborative process to hone the skills of the tribal artistes and promote the marketability and dissemination of their articles.
• Departments of Anthropology, Sociology, History, Santali, Economics and Political Science have collaborated on an interdisciplinary interface to begin a full-fledged research programme in Tribal Studies in the varsity. The interdisciplinary project thrives on a state-of-the-art tribal museum housed in the campus. Researchers on ethnomusicology and ethnology from the country and abroad visit the museum regularly for knowledge resources on the indigenous population of the country.
• The university is focused on interdisciplinary, collaborative and community-based research which will help to generate excellent technologies responding to the needs of local, national and global interests. We inspire young students of the University to think more deeply about sustainable use of natural resources.
• Vidyasagar University has launched different add on courses and CCAE courses to motivate people on bee keeping, mushroom production, wildlife and hospitality management etc. The eco-friendly campus of this varsity stresses on a teaching-learning environment based primarily on the principles of intimacy between Nature and man.
• The meteorological park set up in the university acts as a unique Centre for lending weather related data to local farmers, agriculturists and oceanographic researchers.
• The departments of Chemistry and Botany have started developing beverages like jam, jelly and honey in natural processes.
• Bee hives are maintained and reared in the campus to support the departmental projects and facilitate the growth of an artificial apiary hub. The products are sold in a small scale for the benefit of the local people.
• The students and researchers of the departments also gain hands on experience in the preparation of bio-compatible, wholesome marketable products.
• The cashew nut trees in the campus are leased out for generation of financial resources.
• The rich flora of the campus promotes pollination and bio-diversity.
• The departments of Commerce and Management run an effective entrepreneurship programme for the benefit of students of poor and destitute families.