Canara Engineering College of Mangaluru gets autonomous status

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted autonomy to Canara Engineering College, Mangaluru, according to M. Ranganath Bhat, honorary secretary of the Canara High School Association, which manages the college.

Addressing press persons here on Thursday, Mr. Bhat said that the autonomous status will be effective till the academic year 2034-35.

“With the autonomy, the college can now design its own curriculum, conduct examinations, and declare results. This pivotal moment comes as the college prepares to celebrate its silver jubilee, marking a new chapter of academic innovation, flexibility, and excellence,” he said.

Spread over a 26-acre campus, the college, which started in 2001, currently offers seven undergraduate engineering programs with a student strength of 2,171, supported by 126 faculty members, including 30 Ph.D. holders.

“While continuing its affiliation with the VTU, Belagavi, the college is now empowered to take a more dynamic and innovative approach to higher education, focused on the needs of both students and the ever-evolving industry landscape,” Mr. Bhat said.

Its placement record in 2024-25 stood over 73% with 152 companies visiting the campus. It recorded 100% passes among final-year students for 2024–25.

The college is accredited by NAAC with an ‘A’ grade, and three of its programs—Computer Science, Information Science, and Electronics and Communications Engineering—are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) till June 30, 2028 from July 1, 2025.

The college is also certified with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2018.

The association, founded by Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, is a 134-year-old institution providing quality education from kindergarten to post-graduation levels. “Our educational institutions today educate over 11,000 students and employ more than 700 staff members, nurturing generations of learners irrespective of social or economic background,” Mr. Bhat said.