RCUES, a research and training institution, constitutes a model of collaboration and cooperation between the Osmania University, the Government of India and the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Founded in 1970, the centre was established to address the research and training needs of the constituent states in the following areas:
- urban administration and management
- urban planning, governance and management of basic services
- poverty alleviation and sustainable development
- public health engineering – water supply and sanitation
- institutional strengthening and capacity building
- urban police administration – maintenance of law and order
- human resource development in the sector related organisations
- co-operatives
- financial organisations