Bengaluru: As many as 16 colleges from Karnataka were awarded College with Potential for Excellence (CPE) status by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Four of the colleges are in Bengaluru – Maharani Science College for Women, SJR College of Science, Arts and Commerce, Vijaya College and Malleswaram Ladies Association First Grade College for Women.

The CPE status is awarded based on various parameters like quality of education, student-teacher ratio, basic facilities and research projects taken up by the college. Around 128 colleges in the country were granted the status this year out of which 16 are from Karnataka.

The colleges receiving the CPE status will receive annual grants of Rs 1.5 crore from UGC to improve their infrastructure. Receiving the status is said to be the first step in achieving autonomous status for the colleges.

However, private colleges are considering formation of ‘Cluster University’ by combining a few colleges that provide quality education as that would reduce the burden autonomous institutions face.

Colleges awarded with the title

1. Maharani College for Women, Bengaluru
2. SJR College of Science, Arts and Commerce, Bengaluru
3. KLE Society’s Raja Lakhamagouda Science Institute, Belagavi
4. KSS Arts, Commerce and Science College, Gadag
5. Field Marshal K M Cariappa College, Madikeri
6. University College of Science, Tumakuru
7. Sri Bhuvanendra College, Karkala
8. University College, Mangaluru
9. Gokhale Centenary College, Ankola
10. Vijaya College, Bengaluru
11. Malleswaram Ladies Association First Grade College for Women, Bengaluru
12. Vivekananda College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Puttur
13. JSS Law College, Mysuru
14. KLE Society’s Basavaprabhu Kore Arts, Science and Commerce College, Chikkodi
15. All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru
16. KLE Society’s G I Bagewadi Arts, Science, Commerce and PG College, Nipp