Mangaluru: St. Agnes College, one among the oldest women’s colleges in the city, has been recognised as a ‘College of Excellence’ (CE) by the University Grants Commission. St. Agnes is one of three colleges in the State to receive the recognition this year.

This college established in 1921 and has been an autonomous institution. In 2006, the UGC listed it as the ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ (CPE) and granted ₹1.5 crore as a grant for the improvement of the college’s facilities. On January 1, the UGC selected this college as CE and granted ₹2 crore for further improvement of the quality of education it provides.

Jeswina A.C., principal, St. Agnes College, said the college had been selected after taking into account the improvements in the quality of education and research in the six years since the grant of the CPE status. Following a proposal submitted in 2015, a UGC committee studied the progress of the institution and granted it the CE status. This status will be for a period between April 1, 2017 and March 2022, she said. Sophia College and St. Joseph’s College in Bengaluru are the other two institutions in the State to get this CE status, she added.

Ms. Jeswina said the UGC grant will be used, among others, to set up a digital library and introduce ICT modules of teaching. They will procure latest laboratory equipments and software necessary for research.

The UGC introduced the CPE scheme during the 10th plan to strengthen and improve colleges that have attained high standards in teaching, research and extension activities. This scheme was continued in 11th and 12th plans when the UGC came up an additional component of College of Excellence.