Kolhapur to Establish Maharashtra’s First Cluster University

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the establishment of the state’s first cluster university in Kolhapur as part of the government’s initiative to create smaller institutions from public universities.

The institute, named Warana University, will comprise three colleges run by Shree Warana Vibhag Shikshan Mandal, which is part of Kolhapur-based Warana Group of co-operatives known for its vast network of businesses spanning sugar, dairy, banking, transportation and power sectors. The group is led by Vinay Kore, an MLA from Jan Surajya Shakti Party, which is supporting the ruling alliance.

While the varsity got the nod on Sunday, the government is yet to notify the creation of the new institute. After issuance of a gazette notification, the three colleges will be de-affiliated from Shivaji University Kolhapur, their current parent university.

Also Read: Google ने YouTube यूजर्स को दिया बड़ा झटका! प्रीमियम प्लान्स किए महंगे

State’s Policy Drives Formation of New Cluster University in Kolhapur

The state of Maharashtra, which already hosts three cluster universities—two in Mumbai and one in Satara, established under the central government’s Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme, has now introduced a new addition under its own policy launched last November. This policy allows the merging of two to five institutes managed by the same organization within a district to form a university.

A proposal for Warana University was submitted in March, coinciding with an application from Mumbai’s Malad Kandivali Education Society to establish a cluster university in Malad, with Nagindas Khandwala College as the lead institute. While Warana University has been approved, there is no update on the Malad proposal. “A few proposals are still under review,” an official from the Higher and Technical Education Department stated.

Also Read: Kolkata Doctor Case: छात्र संगठन आज खोलेंगे बंगाल सरकार के खिलाफ प्रोटेस्ट मार्च

About Warana University

Warana University will be spread over a 17.5-acre campus at Warananagar area near Kolhapur city. Of its three constituent colleges, Tatyasahaeb Kore Institute of Engineering and Technology will function as the lead institute, with Yashwantarao Chavan Warana Mahavidyalaya, an arts-science-commerce college, and Tatyasahaeb Kore College of Pharmacy being the other two. The three institutes have a cumulative enrolment of around 6,000 students.