Goa University

Goa University was established under the Goa University Act of 1984 and commenced operations on 1 June 1985. The university provides higher education in the Indian state of Goa.After the annexation of Goa by India on 19 December 1961, the University of Mumbai established a Centre of Post-Graduate Instruction and Research in Panaji. The CPIR offered affiliation to the first colleges that were instituted in Goa in June 1962. Since 1985, the Goa University took over the role of the CPIR. The University offers graduate and post-graduate studies and research programmes. It is currently accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in India with a rating of A Grade.It is located on the Taleigão plateau and is one of India's few universities offering western languages such as Portuguese and French languages. The University's Department of Portuguese and Lusophone Studies is the only such in the entire Indian subcontinent.Educational institutions in colonial GoaAlthough the Portuguese colonial powers set up several seminaries and a number of parish schools after their arrival in Goa in the 16th century, these offered mainly religious and elementary education, respectively. Medical education started in the early 18th century, in the Royal Hospital in the old City of Goa, and the first regular medical course was offered in 1801 at the Royal and Military Hospital. In the 1950s attempts were made by the government to ensure compulsory enrolment in primary schools (Varde 83). Private schools also thrived, including in Marathi and English mediums. Some of these taught up to high school and prepared the students to appear for Secondary School Certificate Examination (Matric/SSCE) of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary Education, Pune.