Puttur: St. Philomena College, Puttur, which is under the Catholic Education Board and has received approval from the Government of Karnataka, has been declared an autonomous college under the affiliation of Mangalore University and the University Grants Commission. The inauguration of the college's newly acquired autonomous status will be celebrated with grandeur on March 22 at the college auditorium. The event will be presided over by the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of the Mangalore Diocese. The Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore Metropolitan Archdiocese, will bless the event as the chief guest. The Honorable Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Shri U.T. Khader Fareed, will be the chief guest.
The distinguished guests will include Shri Dinesh Gundurao, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and District In-Charge Minister for Dakshina Kannada, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda, former Chief Minister of Karnataka and former Union Minister, Captain Brijesh Chout, Member of Parliament, Shri Ashok Kumar Rai, MLA of Puttur, Shri Ivan D'Souza, Member of Legislative Council, Shri Nalin Kumar Kateel, former MP of Dakshina Kannada, Prof. P.L. Dharma, Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University, Dr. Kavita K.R., Regional Joint Director of the College Education Department, Mangalore, Sushri Stella Varghese, Assistant Commissioner of Puttur Sub-Division, Monsignor Maxim Noronha, and Venerable Anthony Michael Shere, former Executive Secretary of the Catholic Board of Education.
"We are all excited for the inauguration of St. Philomena College's autonomous status, which holds more than six decades of history. This autonomy is a significant milestone in the college's journey. I congratulate everyone who has worked hard to achieve this recognition. With this autonomy, the institution will function more efficiently, reflecting our commitment to holistic student development. This recognition motivates us to work even more enthusiastically in the field of higher education. The college currently offers undergraduate programs such as BA, B.Sc., B.Com, BBA, BCA, and BCA (AI & ML), and postgraduate programs like MSW, M.Com, MSc in Physics, and Mathematics. This academic year, we have introduced the MCA course. To meet the demands of rapidly evolving job sectors, next academic year, we will introduce BBA (Business Analytics), BCA (Data Analytics), and B.Sc. (Data Science) programs. Various initiatives will be implemented to ensure the holistic development of our students. Our curriculum will be structured more actively, providing students with a range of optional subjects and emphasizing skill-based learning. We have already implemented a student-centered, transparent examination system, focusing on timely assessments and the academic growth of students."
In the press conference, the college's Director, Very Rev. Fr. Lawrence Mascarenhas, who is also the Parish Priest of May De Deus Church, stated, "We are extremely grateful to all those who contributed to St. Philomena College attaining this prestigious autonomous status. With the support of our efficient leadership, the unwavering support of the governing body, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the enthusiasm of our students, this new chapter of autonomy will take the institution to greater heights. Our senior students and alumni, as well as the Teacher Guardian Association, continue to support the development work at our college. We reaffirm our commitment to educational excellence, research, and holistic education. Autonomy is not just a privilege but a significant responsibility. With the support of everyone associated with the college, we will undertake various development initiatives in the coming years. Our aim is to produce students who will contribute to society as responsible citizens. We express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has worked towards achieving this status for our institution."
The press conference was attended by the college principal, Rev. Dr. Anthony Prakash Monteiro, Vice-Principal Dr. Vijay Kumar M., Registrar (Academics) Dr. Norbert Mascarenhas, Examination Controller Dr. Vinayachandra, and Public Relations Officer Bharathi S. Rai.