The year 2000 is momentous in the history of Karnataka University. The year marked the completion of 50 years of the university and also the birth centenary of its architecture and builder Dr. D. C. Pavate.To commemorate this eventful occasion, the admirers of Dr.D.C.Pavate established a Foundation to conduct academic and research activities befitting the personality of this great visionary in July 2000.

Initially, the Foundation established a Fellowship to be awarded to a distinguished scholar to take up research at the Centre of International Studies, Cambridge University. This allows at least one Indian scholar to proceed each academic year to the Centre of International Studies to undertake a project of relevance to India.   He/She will also be a member of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. The scholar will be nominated after a nationwide selection process that involves eminent academicians in association with the Karnataka University. Later on, with generous support from Government of Karnataka, two more fellowships   have been added in the category of Science and Indian business.

Dr.James Mayall the former Director of the Centre of International Studies, Cambridge University, Professor Dame Sandra Dawson, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Mr. Sharat Javali, Mr. Anil Gokak, Ashok Pavate   and Vice-Chancellors of the Karnataka University played a major role in establishing the linkage with Dr.Pavate Foundation. The process of selecting the scholars would provide an opportunity to Karnatak University to invite scholars from the Cambridge University. 

From the year 2016, with generous funding by  Mr.Ashok Pavate, son of Dr.D.C.Pavate, one more programme has been started.   The new programme shall be called as “ Dr.D.C.Pavate Travel Bursary” Dr. D.C.Pavate foundation in association with Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge will co-ordinate the said programme.   Under Dr.D.C.Pavate Travel Bursary a   faculty from Cambridge   shall visit Karnatak University for the period of two months annually to interact with an appropriate department in the Karnataka University. He/she could be from any discipline selected by Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in consultation/conjunction with the Karnataka University. The selected “ Fellow” will   interact with the scholars, professors, students of the concerned department of Karnataka University. The said programme provides an opportunity to the students, research scholars and professors of Karnataka university to interact with Cambridge scholar.