The College was established as the first Government Polytechnic College in the northernmost district of Kerala. It was established with an objective of providing quality technical education with skill oriented training at low cost to the youth of North Malabar region, most of which are still socially, economically and educationally backward. The emblem of the College was designed and materialised by Sri. N. A. Padmanabhan, who is a former Tradesman in Carpentry section of this institution.
GPC Kasaragod started functioning in 1988 with two diploma programmes in Engineering viz. Electrical & Electronics Engineering, and Electronics Engineering. In 1994, two more diploma programmes – Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering were started. The latest addition to the list of programmes is Diploma in Civil Engineering, which was started in the year 2016.
At present, the College offers five three-year Diploma programs in the disciplines of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Computer Engineering. In addition, a variety of short term courses are conducted for the local community through Continuing Education Cell, Govt. of Kerala.
The 12 acre wide campus at Periye houses the administrative cum academic block, library building, laboratories and workshops, play ground with 200 meter track, auditorium, canteen, men’s hostel and staff quarters. To overcome the deficiency of space in the existing administrative cum academic block, a full-fledged academic building which accommodates class rooms, seminar halls, computer laboratories, faculty rooms etc. is an immediate infrastructure requirement planned in the near future.
The college has a very active Parent-Teacher Association, Department associations, National Service Scheme Technical Cell, Career Guidance & Placement Cell, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Cell and Alumni Association. As part of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations, a four-day National Technical Exhibition was organized in 2015, with participation from institutes of national repute like HAL, ISRO, Central University, Science & Technology Museum, CPCRI, etc. which had won huge accolades from the public. The institution has also hosted two National Conferences in 2016 (DSPICE) and 2018 (NCRTET). In 2017, the college was selected by AICTE for implementing the prestigious SAGY (Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna) programme in Kinanoor-Karindalam Grama Panchayath in Kasaragod district.
GPC Kasaragod has completed 29 years in its noble endeavour to impart quality technical education and training and has played a vital role in uplifting poor students from very remote areas of Kasaragod district. The students who passed out from this institution have achieved great heights in their professional and personal life and have brought glory to the college with their contributions in industries and institutions of national importance.