Fergusson completes 125 years,society for independent varsity

“Presently,colleges of DES including Fergusson and BMCC in Pune are affiliated to the University of Pune. Our institutes in Sangli are affiliated to Shivaji University,Kolhapur. The issue,however,is we cannot start new degree courses such as animation or design in these institutes due to non-provision of these courses in the respective varsities. Hence we have decided to establish our own independent university to start the courses we want to,” he said.

DES is also planning to start a campus near Tirupati airport in Andhra Pradesh for which 50 acres of land has been acquired where the society plans to start courses in basic sciences. “We have planned to start these courses from the 2011-12 session,” said Kakatkar.

He also said that the DES has proposed to go for a total makeover of the old buildings of Fergusson College. “It is proposed to complete the expansion by constructing the additional floors of 65,000 sq ft in the academic complex and and the computer science-life science buildings,” he added.

“In addition,we plan to refurbish the interiors of some buildings and make additions of modern facilities in the old buildings,” said Kakatkar.

Meanwhile,principal of Fergusson College,Ravindrasinh Pardeshi,said that a special programme would be arranged at Fergusson College on Saturday. “Former students of the college are invited for the function to be held in the campus from 5 pm to 9 pm,” he said.

Some eminent alumni like former IAS officer B G Deshmukh,industrialist Abhay Firodiya,former governor of Arunachal Pradesh Ram Pradhan will be present.