Union Christian College, Aluva

About Union Christian College, Aluva

U C College aims at an education system which helps to bring out the best in every individual .It strives to produce intellectually competent, morally upright, spiritually inspired citizens in the service of the country. The origin and growth of the college was mainly on Indian initiative and resources, though the college from the beginning entertained overseas scholars as co-workers.Founded in 1921, Union Christian College is the only centre of higher education in Kerala, run on ecumenical basis. The college is managed by an association of members drawn from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Marthoma Church, the Church of South India and the Inter Church Fellowship of the College.

The origin and growth of the college was mainly on Indian initiative and resources, though the college from the beginning entertained overseas scholars as co-workers.While identifying with the hopes and aspirations of the nation, the college vigorously promoted the scheme of expanding international co-operation. It became a congregating point for a host of scholars, theologians and missionaries from the west. The list includes Canon W. E. S. Holland, Rev. L. W. Hooper, Rev. B. G. Crowley and Malcom Muggeridge. The ecumenical identity of the college carried a strong secular dimension as well. The faculty of the early years were a balanced mix of Christian and non-Christian members.

The Union Christian College, Alwaye was founded in 1921 as a center of Christian Higher Education and a venture of ecumenical cooperation among the major non-Roman Christian denominations in Kerala. At a time when denominations were suspicious of one another, four young men, Messers K.C.Chacko, A.M.Varki, C.P.Mathew, and V.M.Ittyerah, who were in Madras Christian College, embarked upon an adventure of faith by founding this institution. The ecumenical basis, Fellowship method of work, residential character, East-west cooperation and cosmopolitan outlook in staff appointment and student admission have been some of the distinctive characteristics of the college. This is the only center of higher education in Kerala run on an ecumenical basis. It is managed by an association formed by members from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church and the Church of South India in Kerala. From this humble but conspicuous beginning with 5 teachers and 64 students in 1921, the college has grown to be one of the foremost institutions of higher learning in South India. Born out of purely indigenous initiative, the College adopted a residential system which had much in common with the Gurukula tradition. Though modified by the imperatives of time, the life and ethos of UCC still remain unique. The college offers postgraduate courses in eight subjects in addition to several undergraduate courses. Five of the postgraduate departments are recognized Research Centers of Mahatma Gandhi University. The College also has an institute of Information Technology accredited by the Department of Electronics, Government of India.