Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod

The Central University of Kerala, located in Kasaragod, was established in 2009 under the Central Universities Act 2009 (Parliament Act No. 25 of 2009). Guided by the vision of 'Caring Wisdom', the university upholds principles of academic excellence, social responsibility, moral integrity, and intellectual enlightenment, as articulated in its vision statement.

Initially operating from a rented building at Nayanmarmoola (Vidyanagar) in Kasaragod town, the university commenced its academic journey in October 2009 with 17 students enrolled in two postgraduate programs. Since then, it has expanded significantly, offering twenty-seven postgraduate and twenty-two research programs, with a current enrollment of approximately 2500 students.

The university's permanent campus, known as Thejaswini Hills, is situated on 310 acres of land allotted by the Government of Kerala in Periye, Kasaragod, since 2012. The campus encompasses a built-up area of 6,58,400 square feet.

In addition to its headquarters in Periya, the university operates a Law department in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, and offers a BA program in International Relations at its Trivandrum Centre.

Prof. Jancy James served as the first Vice Chancellor from 2009 to 2014, succeeded by Prof. G. Gopakumar (2014 – 2020) and Prof. H. Venkateshwarlu (Aug 2020 – Oct 2023). Currently, Prof. Baiju K.C. is serving as the Acting Vice Chancellor.