Pune: The Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute has launched an ambitious plan to become India’s leading liberal arts centre by 2047.The institute, nearly 200 years old, has begun a major academic overhaul that includes an independent review of all disciplines, preparation of a Vision 2047 roadmap, curriculum reforms, faculty recruitment, global collaborations, infrastructure expansion and scholarships.Speaking at the institute, chancellor Bhushan Patwardhan said every academic discipline would undergo an objective review to identify what is needed to achieve global standards. “Every discipline must ask of itself what it should do to reach the highest level in the world. The exercise has to be objective and guided by independent experts,” he said.The institute has appointed an independent peer review committee headed by Ambam Mukherjee of IIT Hyderabad, along with leading academicians. It has already started consultations with faculty members and will submit recommendations after completing the review.Deccan College will set up a Vision 2047 committee based on the report. It will comprise around 15 experts from humanities, social sciences, archaeology, linguistics, heritage and environmental studies. Over 30 national and international scholars will support the exercise, drawing on the institute’s collaborations with universities across the world.Patwardhan said the Vision 2047 document will guide the institute’s academic, research and infrastructure development over the coming decades. “It will not be just another vision document. It will become a guiding framework to position Deccan College among the world’s finest institutes of liberal arts and humanities,” he said.The roadmap is expected to be finalised by Oct-Nov, following which the institute will approach the Centre for funding. Discussions are also underway with the Maharashtra government to launch a five-year integrated programme. The proposed funds will be used to recruit faculty, strengthen departments, modernise infrastructure and provide scholarships. The institute plans to admit around 20 students from across the country in the first batch.Acting vice-chancellor Prasad Joshi said the reforms would build on Deccan College’s academic legacy, while embracing digital technologies, scientific methods and interdisciplinary research. He said the institute aimed to combine India’s knowledge traditions with modern approaches to strengthen teaching, documentation and research, positioning it as the country’s premier destination for liberal arts, humanities and heritage education with strong global recognition.
