XAVIER BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA, (XBHEI), is the only association of all the Catholic Institutions of Higher Education in India. It is officially recognized by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India(CBCI) and functions in collaboration with the CBCI Commission for Education and Culture. It is the Indian organ to represent the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU / FIUC) with headquarters in Paris. It stands for Gospel values, Excellence and Leadership through higher education in India. Its national office is in Bangalore: Xavier Board National Office, 31 Primrose Road, Bangalore 560 025.

 

HISTORY :

 

Xavier Board was established in May 1951, by eminent educationists of that time at a meeting held at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore. Bishop Severin, the then Chairman of the CBCI Commission for Education, blessed the endeavour of the pioneer stalwarts to create a national organization to federate the welfare of Catholic institutions affiliated to Universities in India. Fr Jerome D’Souza, Fr. M.M.Balaguer SJ, Prof. V.V.John, Fr. John Misquitta SJ, and Fr. John Vallamattam took the lead to bring together all the Catholic colleges in India, and to co-ordinate their activities to uphold Excellence, Gospel Values and True Leadership through higher education. They visualized that the people of our country in the Independent India must be imbued with excellent skills and human values, as well as commitment to national development.

 

At present, we have 341 Colleges and four Universities as member Institutions of Xavier Board. The following are the four Catholic Universities in India.

 

1. Christ University , Bangalore, Karnataka

 

2. Assam Don Bosco University, Sonapur, Assam

 

3. Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

 

4. St. Xavier’s University Kolkata

 

We are proud that the Church in India is held in highesteem and respected by the Government, politicians and the public at large because of the Catholic Church’s contribution through institutions of higher education, health services and other humanitarian services.

 

Many member institutions of Xavier Board are graded the best in India. Many of these institutions are accredited by NAAC with A++ / A+ /A / B++ / B+ grades.

 

Many of them have become Autonomous Colleges and quite a good number have been awarded the ‘College with Potential for Excellence Status and a few as College of Excellence’.

 

Christ University Bangalore, owned by CMI Fathers, became the first Catholic Deemed to be University and Don Bosco University, Guwahati, Assam, owned by the Salesian Fathers, became the first Catholic State University in 2008.

 

Many of our Principals and Staff members are rendering great services as peer team members in NAAC, NCTE / AICTE. Our Medical colleges, Engineering colleges and Professional colleges including Nursing and Teachers’ Training Colleges have been recognized as trend setters and lead the Indian educational scenario in many respects.

 

St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, was highly appreciated by the Judges in the Supreme Court. The stakeholders appreciate the Excellence, Unselfish Commitment, Emphasis on HumanValues, Leadership Training, and Skill Development, for which our institutions dedicate themselves, even in the remote villages of India. Many of the downtrodden and marginalized have come up in society because of these institutions and their care for the downtrodden and tribals. Many of our villages are blessed with our colleges.