Bhadrachalam: The Government Degree College (GDC) in Bhadrachalam district has achieved a big milestone. It has been granted autonomous status and an NAAC B grade by the University Grants Commission. This makes it the first college in the Kothagudem district and the second in the former Khammam to get autonomous status.
Previously, SR & BGNR College in Khammam also obtained autonomy. It is ranked among the top 20 state government colleges.
GDC, Bhadrachalam started in 1980 and has been providing higher education in Telugu and English for the past 44 years. In 2006, the college began offering postgraduate (PG) courses.
Lieutenant Dr. K John Milton, the principal of GDC, shared that the autonomous status is for five years, from the academic year 2024–2025 to 2028–2029. He mentioned that efforts will be made to achieve an A grade from the NAAC in the future.
The college has digitalized its administrative and academic processes, including online fee payments and certificate applications. There are 130 modern machines across four computer labs, according to Dr. Milton.
Students can access many e-journals through a digital library connected with the National Digital Library of India (NDLI), created by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
Last academic year, 1092 students enrolled in degree programs and more than 250 in postgraduate courses. For the current academic year, up to 1,200 students are expected to enroll in degree programs, according to Lieutenant Milton.
Dr. V Kameshwar Rao, the coordinator of the college’s Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), said they have requested permission to form a Board of Studies, Academic Council, and Governing Body from the registrar of Kakatiya University, to which the college is affiliated.
He also mentioned that new courses will be introduced to enhance students’ skills and guarantee employment once the college receives approval from the university.
