Darjeeling, Sept. 8 : St Joseph’s College (North Point) is set to introduce post-graduate studies for the first time in its 79-year-old history, with North Bengal University (NBU) granting it permission to start MA in English from the 2006-07 academic year.

“The Faculty Council of PG Arts had approved a report submitted by a team from NBU on September 1, recommending the introduction of MA in English in our college,” said Fr K. George, vice-principal, North Point. “The vice-chancellor today gave the final nod.”

North Point authorities propose to begin the admission process from September 11 and start classes by September 20, 2006. The college has been granted permission to admit 25 students to the course to start with.

North Point will become the first college in Darjeeling hills and Sikkim to offer post-graduate course in English. It is learnt that of the 400 candidates who had applied for MA in English at the NBU this year, only about 80 were selected and the decentralisation of post-graduate studies by the varsity is expected to help solve the problem of seat shortage to some extent.

The move is also being seen as a stepping stone for North Point which is striving for autonomy, a status enjoyed only by St Xavier’s College, Calcutta, in the entire state. The college has already send a proposal in this regard to University Grants Commission (UGC) through the NBU.

The college has also started eight career-oriented programmes and introduced five self-financed courses in subjects like BBA and BCA. Following a B++ rating by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), North Point has staked its claim as a contender from the region for the Centre for Excellence tag. “After that, we will definitely get financial grants from the UGC for upgrade of infrastructure, which will help us improve our academic standards,” said Despath Rai, who is also a vice-principal of the college.