In 2004, the institute was granted complete autonomy by the state government.[citation needed] The institute now is an autonomous engineering school with permanent affiliation to the University of Pune.
The college's study model was referred to in the early 1950s as the 'Poona Model'. The institute contends that its autonomy now grants it greater flexibility in dynamically changing its syllabus to suit the changing needs of the industry.
COEP is located at the confluence of two rivers, the Mula and the Mutha
History
The College of Engineering, Pune, established in the year 1854, is one of the oldest engineering colleges in Asia.[citation needed] The college was one of the first few colleges established by the British to serve the Indian subcontinent. Initially, it was started as the 'Poona Engineering Class and Mechanical School' to train subordinate officers for carrying out public works like buildings, dams, canals, railways and bridges. Later on, the school became the 'Poona Civil Engineering College', and subsequently in the year 1911, the name was changed to the 'College of Engineering, Poona'. The institution was initially affiliated to the University of Bombay (now Mumbai) for a degree of Licentiate in Civil Engineering known as LCE. The certificate course was converted into a degree course and the first class of the Bachelor of Engineering degree graduated in the year 1912. In 1968, the three year degree was extended to 4 years