[Sikkim Manipal University (SMU)]

Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) is the result of a unique partnership between the Government of Sikkim and Manipal Education. Established in 1995, it is the first government-private initiative in the region. It was set up with an objective of providing the best in education for students of north-east India. SMU is recognised by the University Grants Commission and approved by the Government of India.

The beautiful campus is located in Majitar and Rangpo, amongst the picturesque settings of River Teesta and Kanchendzonga mountains. It hosts a teaching hospital which is the second largest hospital in Sikkim, providing healthcare to the masses. The medical campus has 419 students who attend medical, pharmacy, allied health and nursing courses while the technology campus has 1,800 students in engineering, management courses, Twinning Programmes and Applied Sciences. Together, there are 279 faculty members to teach these students.

The university's Majitar campus alone has 9 laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment and 4 lecture halls that are equipped with modern audio-visual teaching aids. The well equipped library caters to the needs of students and teachers. Besides course related books, the library also stocks general and technical books. The Developing Library Network (DELNET) facility provides on-line access to leading libraries in the country. The Institute is also a member of INDEST- AICTE Consortium and thus has on line access to most of the leading journals in the field of technology.

Sikkim Manipal University has the following constituent institutions:

1. Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS)
2. Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT)
3. College of Nursing
4. College of Physiotherapy
5. School of Basic & Applied Sciences

The Sikkim Manipal University Distance Education (SMUDE) was established in 2001 by the Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical and Technological Sciences, as part of its efforts to bring education to the masses and fulfil the growing demand for professionals. The programmes offered by SMU are recognised by the Distance Education Council of the Government of India.

These programmes are made accessible by over 650 learning centres across the country that use Tel, and are connected together by sophisticated VSAT technology. The programmes offered include Masters' degree programmes, Bachelors' degree programmes, Diploma and Post Graduate diploma programmes. This has benefited 255,000 students who take full advantage of the 65 core faculty members and the 6,268 supporting faculty members at the learning centres. Most of the programmes offered are designed for multiple entry and exit. Lateral Entry into higher semesters and credit transfers from one institution to another are also permitted in specific areas.

SMU-DE is well equipped with IT infrastructure and well supported by a pool of academic faculty and University recognised learning centres, good administrative set-up and support services to serve its student clientele. SMU-DE has the unique facility of offering Interactive Distance Learning Solutions through EduNxt thereby breaking the barriers of time, geography and distance. The learning centres are networked to a central studio from where a faculty member delivers the lecture and students can see and hear the lecture, ask and answer questions. Virtual classrooms therefore create an interactive environment, providing quality training to a large number of students in geographically dispersed sites.