Mangalore Diocese News

Media Release

Puttur, 20 March 2025 : St Philomena College, a premier institution under the Catholic Board of Education and affiliated with Mangalore University, has officially been granted autonomous status by the Government of Karnataka and the University Grants Commission (UGC). To mark this important milestone in its over six-decades-long history, the College will host a grand Inauguration Ceremony on March 22 in the College Auditorium.

The event will be presided over by Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore, while Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bengaluru, will grace the occasion as the inaugurator and invoke blessings. The program will be further honoured by the presence of Honourable U. T. Khader Fareed, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, as the Chief Guest.

Several eminent dignitaries are scheduled to join as Guests of Honor:

• Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, and District In-charge Minister for 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 Member of Parliament, 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

Speaking at a press briefing, Very Rev. Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, Correspondent of St Philomena College and Parish Priest of Mai De Deus Church, emphasized the historic significance of the autonomy conferred on the institution:
“We have been eagerly awaiting this day when autonomy of St Philomena College would be formally inaugurated. This status serves as a major milestone in the remarkable legacy of the College of over six decades. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to everyone who worked tirelessly to help the institution achieve this standing. Autonomy will make our operations more dynamic and further accentuates our steadfast commitment to holistic student development. It is not merely a privilege but it is also a great responsibility that will inspire us to continue excelling in the realm of higher education.”

Highlighting the new academic opportunities that autonomy will bring, he added:
“At present, our undergraduate programs include BA, BSc, BCom, BBA, BCA, and BCA (AI & ML). For postgraduate studies, we offer MSW, MCom, MSc in Physics, and MSc in Mathematics, with MCA introduced recently. To meet the evolving demands of the job market, we are also launching BBA (Business Analytics), BCA (Data Analytics), and BSc (Data Science) in the forthcoming academic year. By refining our curricula to be more skill-driven and student-centric, we aim to ensure that our graduates are fully equipped to excel in modern professional environments. We have implemented a transparent examination system cantered on timely assessments and continuous focus on our students’ academic progress. With autonomy, we can design innovative teaching-learning practices, offer diverse elective options, and bolster the skill sets of our students. Our dedicated faculty, staff, and vibrant student body, backed by the unwavering support of our Management and alumni, are poised to take St Philomena College to even greater heights.”

Rev. Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, Principal of the College, Dr Vijaykumar Moleyar, Vice Principal, Dr Vinayachandra, Controller of Examinations, Dr Norbert Mascarenhas, Registrar (Academics); and Ms Bharathi S. Rai, Public Relations Officer, also participated in the press conference. They conveyed gratitude to all those who have contributed to securing autonomy to the College.