Puttur: St Philomena College, a leading institution under the Catholic Board of Education and affiliated with Mangalore University, has been granted autonomous status by the Government of Karnataka and the University Grants Commission (UGC). To commemorate this historic achievement, the College will host a grand inauguration ceremony on March 22 at its auditorium.
Distinguished guests to grace the occasion
The event will be presided over by Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore, with Most Rev. Dr Peter Machado, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bengaluru, inaugurating and invoking blessings. Honourable U. T. Khader Fareed, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, will attend as the Chief Guest.
Other eminent dignitaries include:
✅ Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao – Minister for Health & Family Welfare and District In-charge Minister, Dakshina Kannada
✅ Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda – Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Former Union Minister
✅ Captain Brijesh Chowta – Member of Parliament
✅ Shri Ashok Kumar Rai – MLA, Puttur
✅ Shri Ivan D’Souza – MLC
✅ Shri Nalin Kumar Kateel – Former MP, Dakshina Kannada
✅ Prof. P. L. Dharma – Vice Chancellor, Mangalore University
✅ Dr Kavita K. R. – Regional Joint Director, Collegiate Education, Mangalore
✅ Sushri Stella Varghese – Assistant Commissioner, Puttur Sub-division
✅ Very Rev. Msgr. Maxim Noronha – Vicar General, Diocese of Mangalore
✅ V. Rev. Antony Michael Shera – Parish Priest, Immaculate Conception Church, Mulki
A milestone in the College’s legacy
Speaking at a press briefing, Very Rev. Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, Correspondent of St Philomena College and Parish Priest of Mai De Deus Church, highlighted the significance of autonomy:
“This is a proud and historic moment for St Philomena College. Autonomy is not just a privilege but also a great responsibility. It empowers us to design a more dynamic and student-centric academic framework, ensuring the holistic development of our students. This milestone is a testament to the tireless efforts of our faculty, staff, alumni, and management in shaping a premier institution for higher education.”
New academic opportunities and curriculum advancements
With autonomy, St Philomena College aims to introduce skill-driven and career-focused programs. The College currently offers:
🎓 Undergraduate programs – BA, BSc, BCom, BBA, BCA, and BCA (AI & ML)
🎓 Postgraduate programs – MSW, MCom, MSc in Physics, MSc in Mathematics, and MCA
To align with industry demands, the College is launching:
📊 BBA (Business Analytics)
📊 BCA (Data Analytics)
📊 BSc (Data Science)
“Our goal is to prepare students for modern professional environments through innovative teaching methods, elective flexibility, and skill enhancement programs. A transparent and timely examination system will further ensure academic excellence,” said Rev. Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, Principal of St Philomena College.
The press meet also saw participation from Dr Vijaykumar Moleyar (Vice Principal), Dr Vinayachandra (Controller of Examinations), Dr Norbert Mascarenhas (Registrar – Academics), and Ms Bharathi S. Rai (Public Relations Officer). They expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to securing autonomous status for the institution.