Guru Nanak Dev University was established on Nov. 24, 1969 to commemorate the 500th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikh religion. Guru Nanak Dev University is one of the premier universities of the country, which was two times accredited with the 5 star (the highest level) accreditation among the universities in India by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous institution of University Grants Commission. Apart from traditional areas of higher education, university has the reputation of promoting education and research in professional and technological fields, with the aim of creating human resources in the new but highly required areas in the country.
The motto of the University as engraved on its emblem Guru’s wisdom illumines all speaks of the vision and idealism for which the University stands. Spread over a stretch of 500 acres towards the west of the City, Guru Nanak Dev University presents a picture of modern architecture. Traditional red brick geometrical blocks represent its regard for time-honoured values and commitment to scientific advancement. Making its humble beginning in an annexe of the adjoining Khalsa College, the University today boasts of 37 academic departments, two regional centres, two colleges and a score of support service departments besides several administrative offices. In recent years, the University has diversified in a big way its programmes into applied sciences making it one of the distinguished centres of industry related job-oriented courses.
The University takes pride in the fact that its community over the years has developed a great participative work culture. The University has won Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy 17 times and inter-versity youth festival championship four times consecutively. UGC has granted the University Centre for Excellence in Sports Sciences. National Assessment and Accreditation Council accredited the University at the "Five Star Level". Being rated at such a high level will inspire its community to make strides ahead still faster and stronger with academic excellence and commitment to social upliftment as the core ideals. a very large number of them being girl students drawn from the neighbouring countryside.
To promote research among its faculty, all the Science Departments have been provided with a Centralized Research Infrastructure Facility under ‘Emerging Life Science Technologies’, independent computer facilities and internet connectivity and departmental libraries. In addition to the academics, the University has also created necessary facilities for recreation and all round development of students and faculty in the form of Department of Youth Services, National Service Scheme, a 900 seat all purpose auditorium, half a dozen seminar and conference halls, a modern hi-tech sports complex, sports hostel, faculty club, students’ centre, health centre, day care centre, two separate holiday homes at Dalhousie for teachers and students, working women hostel, Baba Buddha College Bhawan along with oncampus residential facilities for a large number of students, teachers and administrative staff. The Campus with its lush green grounds, swaying fields, blossom laden tree lined lanes provides a most conducive physical environment for work and progress.
The University has contributed tremendously in accessing higher education to women in this otherwise educationally backward area. Being an affiliating University, it also performs the parenting role of directing and monitoring the academic programmes of more than 100 colleges located in the five districts of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshehar and Gurdaspur, some of which have a long and creditable history of imparting higher education since late nineteenth century. Over the years, the University has built up an excellent academic infrastructure in the form of a well stocked computerised library, state-of-the-art laboratories, Academic Staff.
Guru Nanak Dev University has attained the status of University with Potential for Excellence (UPE) in the year 2012 which is the highest status awarded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), India. Guru Nanak Dev University is one of the best 6 universities in India and only one in the state of Punjab to acquire this status. The faculty of Life Sciences of the University has also been awarded the status of Centre with Potential for Excellence in a Particular Area (CPEPA) by UGC.