Prataprao Pawar appointed President of COEP Governing Council

Pune: Prataprao Pawar, the chairman of Sakal Media Group, has been appointed as the President of the Governing Council of the College of Engineering Pune (COEP). Pawar has been associated with COEP for the last 16 years. He was the President of the Finance Committee of COEP in the past. 

The Higher and Technical Education Department issued the order regarding Pawar's appointment on Tuesday. Dr Pramod Chaudhary, President of Praj Industries and Dr Sanjay Dhande, former Director of IIT Kanpur, are also elected as members of the Governing Council. Anand Deshpande, President of Persistent Systems, will also be a member of the Governing Council of COEP. 

Commenting on his appointment, Pawar said, "I have been associated with the COEP for the last 16 years. During this stint, I had the opportunity to work with visionaries like Dr FC Kohli and other many eminent personalities. With their cooperation, we could do much constructive work for COEP. I could contribute to many important projects related to the college. I thank Dr Kohli and other members for their support. The professors and other colleagues at the institute have also supported us throughout. They helped us bring in many reforms. I have no doubts that this tradition will continue hereafter.

"With the help of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a land plot of 30 acres near Moshi has been allocated for the institute. The Fadnavis government and present Thackeray government have promised to grant Rs 150 crore for expansion of the institute at the new location. We are planning to start a centre for Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and other futuristic subjects at the new location. Dr Chaudhary, Dr Dhande, Mr Deshpande and other experts will help us in this initiative."

Revealing further details on the important topics to be included in the curriculum, Pawar added, "Some generous individuals have donated funds for COEP. Work-related to Metallurgy, Mechanical and Computer Engineering departments and library will be completed on a priority basis in the first phase. After this, the expansion work at Moshi will begin. Apart from this, important topics will be included in the curriculum considering the futuristic needs of students. We will make sure that COEP remains the leading institute in the country."