With the whole world moving towards advanced technologies and amenities, the field of Pharma and Healthcare while acting as saviors for all of us during this ghastly pandemic, progressed along with the world too. Advancing eventually with better healthcare and digital services, the future of healthcare seems bright and better in front of every eye. Demanding a workforce who are tech savvy and capable for a better tomorrow, society today needs individuals who are not just expert Pharma professionals, but well-trained all-rounded managers. Also, like many sectors and industries, Pharma professionals too are needed to be expert innovators and learners, who can in turn help the world become a better & a safer place. Subsequently, with colleges/institutes across the length and breadth of our country starting on an endless race of giving back to society – Pharma experts, the world needs and demands, only quite a few educational hubs have achieved both excellence and results. One such prime Pharma haven who has been acknowledging the advancements in the field of health sciences and working rigorously towards societal and student upliftment – PE Society’s Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune comes as a welcome ray of hope, even during these gloomy times of high turmoil.
Having made its name as one of the most premiere institutes of pharmacy education in Pune, Maharashtra – Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune operates under the umbrella of Progressive Education Society, which was founded and established by eminent personalities, such as late Prof. Shankarraoji Kanitkar. Committing itself to impart modernized education to students for their progressive development, the college has been running B. Pharm course since the year 1998, and now is proud of hosting 4 PG courses in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Quality Assurance Techniques & a Pharm. D. course with Post Baccalaureate course starting from 2021. Also, the college has been approved by Savitribai Phule Pune University as Research center to conduct Ph. D. program since 2012-13.
Learners to leaders
Strategically built in the industrial belt of Pimpri-Chinchwad area of Pune city, which harbors many pharmaceutical companies like Litaka, Emcure, Centaur, Nulife and so on, Modern College of Pharmacy has had the honor of being the first pharmacy college in Savitribai Phule Pune University which has approvals under sections 2 (f) and 12 (B) of UGC Act 1956. It is also approved by the Pharmacy Council of India, by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) New Delhi and the Government of Maharashtra. Additionally, the college has been accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) since 2019 and by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) since 2014. The hard work and immense dedication put in by the management and everyone present on the college campus has resulted in the college being ranked between 40-75 over the last four years by National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF) of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India & has received a Platinum ranking by AICTE-CII survey in the last three years.
The college is recipient of various prestigious awards to name a few Best Professional College Award and Best NSS Unit Award by the Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Known for carving out its special niche of imparting quality Pharma education, PE Society’s Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune has a glorious tradition of bright academic results. Basing the whole academic setup in a completely wi-fi enabled campus, with well-equipped laboratories and classrooms, students savour every amenity/facility made available to them. Also, considering the current times, the Pharma College has endorsed, and adapted ICT enabled teaching aids and facilities, catered towards the ever-changing pedagogy, with a separate computer laboratory, which consist of 42 computer terminals to access e-resources, internet & thesis typing. Taking it a notch up, the college has also invested more than Rs. 2.58 Crores on Laboratory equipment from leading brands such as HPTLC, Particle size analyzer, HPLC, and many more advanced sophisticated equipment. The library houses 1651 titles, 11866 volumes, 11859 e-books, 8273 e-journals, 28 hardbound journals, Chemical abstracts (1907-1985) and also has memberships of the British Council Library & Jaykar Library.
A completely student-centered hub of excellence, at Modern College of Pharmacy every student is motivated to not just outperform inside the classroom but make his/her mark felt in every endeavour they want to pursue. To instill confidence, knowledge, leadership qualities, organizational capacity and professional skills, various curricular and extracurricular events are organized for the holistic development of the students, where the onboard faculty members play a vital role in bringing out hidden talents and helping them flourish. By implementing various pedagogical initiatives of teaching-learning, focused towards effective and efficient compliance of the curriculum, including student-centric learning, virtual learning, ICT-enabled learning, project-based learning, students are presented with thorough opportunities such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) in various topics, in turn, enhancing their academic accomplishments. The College has also effectively been implementing the practice of students’ mentoring, while offering merit scholarships, book bank facilities, proper guidance for competitive examinations, career guidance to students, along with providing value added courses in Clinical Research Educational Programme, cGMP, DRA & IPR. It is heartening to state that reputed industries across the country visit this college for campus recruitment programs.
Well in-sync with the future
“We are recognized as a major research center by Savitribai Phule Pune University for the Pharmaceutical sciences, where almost 80% of our faculty members are Ph.D recipients, and are known for their PG & Ph.D. research work”, stated Hon. Prof. Dr. G. R. Ekbote, the Chairman of the educational society. Talking to us about how Modern College of Pharmacy is a unique, yet global institution meant for the Gen-z Pharma aspirants, the Honorable Chairman and the Principal – Dr. Praveen D. Chaudhary, took us on a tour of the college, explaining in detail what makes Modern College of Pharmacy a true research-oriented pharma facility. Continuing on the above point and stating clear pictures of how the college has awarded individuals who have shown their true prowess as capable research enthusiasts, Dr. Praveen stated – “About 10 Ph.D research scholars have their doctoral research and 447 research scholars have successfully completed their post-graduation. Moreover, many are currently pursuing Phd with JRF, SRF or other fellowships”.
Preparing itself towards intensifying the industry-academia relationships, the college has been an active chapter for the NPTEL courses for the last 5 years. Also, all thanks to its active linkages and MOUs with Industry and Research Institutes, the college has made valuable contacts with various NGOs and other organizations to boost the extension and society outreach activities. Rigorous interaction is also brought out with industrial experts, where students and faculty get awareness about the current scenario and are trained accordingly to cope up with current industrial research requirements. All in all, being that place where a total of Rs. 1.84 Crores has been garnered in the form of research grants from various funding agencies like AICTE, UGC, DST, University of Pune, and ICMR etc in the last 5 years, the way ahead for the Pharma College seems smooth yet filled with many challenges to go beyond excellence. Having been honored with various prestigious research awards such as IDMA Best Research Paper Award, IJPER’s R.L. Nicore Award, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy Award, Vaidya Antarkar Outstanding research award etc., the college and the management want to continue striving on the very same lines with the help of a structured research monitoring committee, which helps them design, plan and monitor research issues at various levels, right in the pursuit of being called perhaps the best Pharma Institute/College of the country, today and in the days to come.
Hon. Prof. Dr. G. R. Ekbote – Chairman (Business Council, Progressive Education Society)
The man behind the great edifice of today’s Progressive Education Society’s glorious achievements, Dr. Gajanan R. Ekbote is a surgeon by profession, and made his foray into the world of administration in 1985. Fueled by the desire for pedagogical pursuits, he accepted the challenging responsibility of leading the Progressive Education Society, Pune as its chairman. In order to keep pace with the changing scenario of education, he has introduced emerging and need-based courses in the institutions run by Progressive Education Society. It is an account of his proactive approach and foresightedness that he has been successfully leading 62 educational institutions in Pune City. In addition, Dr. G. R. Ekbote was granted an equivalent of Ph.D. degree by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik for his outstanding academic qualifications, research work and eminence achieved in his profession. He has worked as Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Member, Management Council and Academic Council, Senate Savitribai Phule Pune University & MUHS, Nasik. He has also worked as the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the same University.
Dr. P. D. Chaudhari – Principal
A man whose primary aim is to achieve professional excellence by diligence and continuous learning, Dr. P. D. Chaudhari has various academic achievements to his credit. He has actively worked as a Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Member, Academic Council, Senate, Savitribai Phule Pune University. Currently, he is working as President, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India. Apart from being a capable academician, administrator and a renowned Pharma personality, Dr. Chaudhari has dedicated a considerable part of his life to research endeavors. He is the recipient of three prestigious research awards. Having been responsible for receiving research grants of over 33.6 Lakh rupees, he has 4 patents granted to his credit, over 156 publications including 25 review Articles, 15 presentations and so on.
