Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK) is a Pontifical Athenaeum for higher learning and formation, established by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Vatican, as an independent institute, empowered to grant degrees, including Licentiate and Doctorate in Philosophy and Theology,Licentiate in Oriental Canon Law, Master’s and Licentiate in Formative Spirituality and Counselling including Doctorate in Formative Spirituality and Counselling
Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram is a Registered Society under the Karnataka Societies of Registration Act 1960 (Karnataka Act No.17 of 1960) as Sl. No.13/84-85 of Bangalore City Corporation.
Institute of Oriental Canon Law
In the context of the ever-increasing importance of specialization and research in Oriental Canon Law and taking into account the facilities of DVK in creatively contributing to the overall progress of the Church in India, especially the Oriental Churches, a new Institute was erected at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram by the Congregation for Catholic Education on March 29, 1999. This Institute is aggregated to the Pontifical Oriental Institute (POI), Rome, and is named Institute of Oriental Canon Law. This institute was inaugurated on July 14, 1999 by Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal VithayathilCSsR, then Chancellor of DVK.
IncorporatedInstitute of Formative Spirituality and Counselling
The Congregation for Catholic Education raised Vinayasadhanainto an Incorporated Institute in the Faculty of Theologyon31 May 2021 (Prot. N. 1101/2019; 131-134,136-138, N.422/2021). Now the VinayasadhanaInstitute is entitled to confer Doctorate in Theology (Ph.D.) with specialization in Formative Spirituality and Counselling.The Congregation had already granted permission to confer the Master of Arts in Formative Spirituality and Counselling on 12 December 2003 through the letter of promulgation (Prot.N.946/2000/21-727/79), and Licentiate (L. Th) in Theology with specialization in Formative Spirituality and Counselling to those who are eligible for the degree (Prot. N.946/2000) on 28 October 2010. The eligible candidates also get a UGC recognized MA from CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. The Incorporated Institute also offers one-year diploma course in formative spirituality and counselling.
The New Campus
Growing as a premier institution of theological and philosophical education, DVK gradually developed a separate and independent campus for itself, exhibiting its grandeur and intellectual ambience. Thanks to the generous help of our well-wishers and benefactors such as MISSIO, the Archdiocese of Cologne, and others. The Administrative Centre, Theology Faculty, Philosophy Faculty, Postgraduate Centre, Adhyayana Hostel, and a well-equipped Central Library were constructed in due course.
Contact with Other Centres of Learning
Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram maintains close relationship with St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bengaluru, and organises mutually beneficial academic programmes. To foster ecumenical relations and co-operation in theological and related studies DVK has entered into a contract with the United Theological College (UTC), Bengaluru. It has also very cooperative academic relations with the Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC), Whitefield, Bengaluru. DVK is a member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) and of the Conference of Catholic Theological Institutions (COCTI).
Dharmaram Alumni Association (DAA)
Mar Jonas Thaliath, CMI, the Mastermind behind Dharmaram, said: “The only worthy act of gratitude on the part Dharmaram will be sending out year after year of preachers of the Good News, who will reflect in all that they do and say, the ineffable beauty and goodness of Christ, our Master and Lord.” It is with a profound sense of gratitude that we remember that over 3500 young men and women who have received effective spiritual and intellectual priestly formation here, work all over the world for the flowering of God’s Kingdom on earth. In several fields of life, today, our past students are rendering excellent services. During the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Dharmaram College in 2007, Dharmaram Alumni Association was launched to link the past members with the present and the future ones. During the 2009 Convocation the DAA was officially inaugurated by His Beatitude Baselios CleemisCatholicos, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Church, an Alumni of DVK, who kindly consented to be the President of Dharmaram Alumni Association. Also the Vice President is another Alumni, Augen Mar Kuriakose, and Episcopa of the Church of the East. The Secretary is Rev. Fr. Donald SMM. In order to share information about the developments in DVK and Dharmaram and also to share and diffuse information about the achievements of the past members provision is made in the official website of DVK (www.dvk.in). All the past students are cordially invited to join in the Alumni Association by filling up the Alumni section of the website.
Director: Dr.DevasiachanMukulathu, CMI
Email:registrar@dvk.in
Coordinator: Postgraduate Programmes
The Office of the Coordinator of the Postgraduate Programmes is instituted in order (1) to promote the spirit of interdisciplinary approach among the postgraduate students of theology, philosophy, canon law and formative spirituality and counselling, (2) to coordinate inter-faculty/departmental programmes, such as general orientation, seminars, conferences, and extension lectures, (3) to organize, in whatever way possible, common classes in optional subjects, languages, methodology, etc., and (4) to facilitate community mining, in order to create an atmosphere of mutual appreciation and understanding among the postgraduate students.
Coordinator: Prof. Dr.PaulachanKochappilly, CMI
Email: paulachan.kochappilly@cmi.in
Coordinator of International Relations:
The office of Coordinator of International Relations is instituted to look into possibilities of collaboration between DVK and international Institutes and Faculties of academic excellence and of signing and implementing MoUs.
Director: Prof. Dr. Kurian Kachappilly, CMI
Email: kkachappilly@hotmail.com