Darjeeling Hills University is a state public university located in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Established by the Government of West Bengal, it was created to expand higher education provision in the hill region of northern West Bengal, an area historically served by colleges affiliated to the University of North Bengal.
| Name | Darjeeling Hills University |
|---|---|
| Type | State public university |
| Location | Darjeeling, West Bengal, India |
| Region | Darjeeling Hills (northern West Bengal) |
| Founder/Establishing authority | Government of West Bengal |
| Country | India |
The Darjeeling Hills, comprising the subdivisions of Darjeeling Sadar, Kurseong and Mirik, along with the adjoining Kalimpong district, form a culturally and linguistically distinct part of West Bengal. Higher education in the region had long been delivered through degree colleges affiliated with the University of North Bengal, headquartered in Siliguri. Demand for a dedicated university for the hills had been raised over several years by educationists, students' bodies and political organisations active in the region, including the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Darjeeling Hills University was conceptualised as a state university to serve students from the hill subdivisions and to provide an institutional base for teaching and research suited to the region's specific needs, including in the languages, history and culture of the area.
As a state public university, Darjeeling Hills University falls under the regulatory framework of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the higher education department of the Government of West Bengal. It is intended to function both as a teaching university and as an affiliating body for colleges located in the Darjeeling hill region.
The establishment of the university is significant in several respects: