Associations' / Institutions' News

Media Release

Mangaluru, April 30, 2018 : The seventh graduation day of St Agnes College (Autonomous) was held on Friday, April 27, in the college auditorium here with much dynamism.

The programme commenced at 3 pm with a ceremonial march from the college office to the auditorium immediately followed by the invocation. Among the dignitaries present were, the esteemed chief guest Prof Dr Gopa Kumar, vice-chancellor of the Central University of Kerala, the president of the programme, Sr M Carmel Rita, the superior of St Agnes Convent and joint-secretary of St Agnes College Sr Dr Maria Roopa, the members of the governing body, the academic council, the registrar, the IQAC co-ordinator, deans of all the faculties, the members of the various board of studies and board of examiners, members of PTA, and heads of other institutions also joined the ceremonial march. The alumni and parents of the graduates were among the special invitees for the ceremony.

Dr Devi Prabha Alva introduced and welcomed the august gathering after which the president of the programme declared the graduation day open and the registrar, St Agnes College (Autonomous), presented the graduates to the dignitaries. There were 658 graduates in all, including 20 who received ranks with medals and cash prizes.

Dr Gopa Kumar who is a renowned researcher and luminary figure in the field of political science, in his graduation address congratulated the graduates on their success and wished them a bright future ahead. In his address, the chief guest laid thrust on the importance of connecting knowledge with spirituality for actual self-realization and to build a better world. He also gave the students a very meaningful encapsulation of the history of higher education in India over the last few centuries, laying particular emphasis on the post-independence developments. He pointed out that though India has 864 universities and over 50,000 colleges, the need of the hour in the arena of higher education now, was access, equity and quality, such that higher education spreads far and wide in a democratic manner. He said that learning must be translated into skills that build the society and bring about a greater value in existence.

In her presidential address, Sr M Carmel Rita, reminded the students about the upcoming centennial year of the college giving the graduates a brief-up of the glorious history of the institution founded by Mother Mary Aloysia, and sustained by efforts and sacrifices many others who walk in the path show by God and the founder. She congratulated the graduates and requested them to live by the compassion and value system emulated by them at St Agnes College and become persons who live not only for themselves alone, but for others.

The chief guest in the presence of the dignitaries awarded the rank holders of all the faculties with medals prizes, and conferred the degrees to all the graduates. Sarah Crasta, PG department of Psychology was the master of ceremonies, and Derik Dias, department of Economics, rendered the vote of thanks. The programme concluded at 5 pm with the singing of the national anthem.

This is the seventh graduation day of the college and a significant milestone in the journey of the institution; St. Agnes College (Autonomous) which attained academic autonomy in 2007 and made its forays into post graduate education in 2008, is now the only college under the Mangalore University, the third in the state of Karnataka and the eighteenth in the country to be accredited with an A+ grade by NAAC with a CGPA of 3.65 in the fourth cycle. The college also was granted the status of ‘College of Excellence’ by UGC in early 2017. In the long run of events, the college is on the threshold of its centennial year in 2020-21 and a host of activities and celebration are being deliberated upon for the same.