GetMyUni's Verdict on UniPune (SPPU)

Midhun Hari

“The Savitribai Phule Pune University was instituted in 1949 and has been one of the prominent universities in the state ever since. However, taking a closer look at the university’s reality, it becomes clear that the University administration needs to work on serving the students better.”

A University with a history of more than 7 decades, the Savitribai Phule Pune University, formerly Pune University, is one of the premier Universities in Pune and in the state of Maharashtra. The University has been called the “Oxford of the East” and is a NAAC ‘A’ graded institution. However, a bit more grim aspects come to light when one takes a closer look at the ground realities of this University.

A criticism of the University that has been repeatedly sounded is about the inept and unprofessional administration. Students have described many situations where they have had to pay a very hefty price for a mistake at the end of the administration. The students have been vocal about their disappointment and frustration at the University’s administration for the hardships it has caused them.

Furthermore, the students have complained about the evaluation system at the University. Students have often found it challenging to be able to score well because of the stringent evaluation. Students say the evaluation process emphasises on quantity rather than quality.

Table of Contents

• Outdated Courses
• Mediocre Faculty in Many Departments
• How About the SPPU Infrastructure?
• Good Placement Rate
• The Student Experience at SPPU
• Final Verdict

Outdated Courses

The SPPU consists of 46 academic departments that offer programs at diploma, PG diploma, UG, PG and PhD levels. The levels of the courses provided by the different departments vary, but in the case of most departments, the UG courses are not offered. The UG courses like B.Sc., B.A and B.Tech.

As for the quality of courses, the students have said that the syllabus is not updated to meet industry standards. The syllabus is revised every 4 years, although students feel that not enough emphasis has been given to adding more relevant topics. Some students also say that the syllabuses are too expansive to be covered in one semester.

The affordability of the SPPU can be said to be average to high. The University is a public state university which keeps the course fees and overall expenses incurred by the students at check. 

Difficulty in Passing Courses

Students of the past and present have said that It is very difficult to pass and score well at Pune University. The stringent evaluation system that the evaluators employ is the reason for this. Getting backlogged in semesters is not uncommon at the University; in fact, it is the norm. Many students say that even when they feel they have performed well in the exam, they are disappointed and frustrated to see the results. Moreover, students say they are often inundated with the many assignments and submissions they are made to do throughout the semester. 

Mediocre Faculty In Many Departments

The faculty at the Pune University are qualified and experienced. The faculty is a mix of young and mature members. However, the faculty are often not very proficient at their teaching. 

The students have said that, except in some departments, most of the teachers could be more knowledgeable in their subjects, and their teaching methods could be more efficient. Students say that many of the younger faculty need more industrial experience to give them the correct advice for their career growth.

How About the SPPU Infrastructure?

The SPPU campus is spread over 411 acres and has the ambience of a historic fort to it. Several very picturesque areas across the campus are filled with old trees that adorn the atmosphere. The elegant main building of the campus is more than 150 years old, built during the British Raj and is currently being restored. Moreover, the University has four Auditoriums, and an Amphitheater, sprawling parks and gardens. 

Another main infrastructural facility is the Jayakar Library, which boasts a collection of more than 4,50,627 books and Journals. The library contains several ancient texts and has been brought to the 21st century as it is completely computerised. To ensure the safety of the students, the campus is under CCTV surveillance, and there is enough security around the campus. 

Cramped SPPU Hostels

The Pune University provides 7 boys hostels and 6 girls hostels to accommodate the students. The hostels provide all the essential amenities to the students and are maintained relatively well. However, students say that the hostels could use a lot of development. Some rooms are rather cramped with more than 3 occupants. 

The hostels also have a mess to provide the students with food. The food quality is average, and some students prefer to take tiffin services from outside the hostel. The hostel and mess fees are extremely low and are very affordable. However, students who can afford it often choose to find alternative accommodation outside the college campus.

In addition to the mess at the hostels, the University also has a cafeteria and several kiosks that provide the students and faculty with meals, snacks and beverages throughout the day.

The Sports Facilities

The University Campus consists of several courts and grounds for various sports along with a Gymnasium and a Sports hostel. A sizable open ground for outdoor Indian and European team-games and athletics is also available. A series of indoor games are also provided. An Olympic Size Swimming Pool is also under construction.

Good Placement Rate

The University of Pune has a placement cell that works towards securing placements for students leaving the University. The placement cell helps the students to start their careers. A good bunch of companies, like CS, Infosys, Wipro, Capgemini, Accenture, Amazon, Flipkart and L&T, visit the campus. The placement rate at the University is quite good, with 70-80% of the students getting placed. The packages offered range from INR 3 lakh to INR 20 lakh, depending on the courses the students are graduating from. 

The Student Experience at SPPU

The SSPU conducts several competitions and youth festivals at the campus for the students. The talented students are also sent to participate in the national and state-level competitions. Moreover, the campus also hosts several conferences, workshops and Seminars.

The University mandates a 75 % attendance rate for the student to be eligible for the final exams. However, this is not implemented strictly, and often, students with more than 50% attendance find themselves able to attend the exams. The university campus is safe and secure, and there have been no reports of harassment or discrimination at the campus. The campus is a ragging-free zone.

As for student diversity, most of the students at the University are from the state of Maharashtra. Non-Marathi-speaking students have talked about how some staff ignore their needs because of the language barrier. There is no strict dress code on the campus. The students are expected to dress modestly and in a way fit for the academic environment.

The Headache that is the Administration

The students have reported numerous instances of the number of times that they have faced difficulties because of the carelessness and ineptitude of the administration. From errors in data entry that end up with the students being given the wrong marks to other very serious issues, the administration has been accused of being completely incompetent.

Adding to the inefficacy of the administration, the students need to be provided with an academic calendar which outlines the schedule for the various educational activities. Students say they know the exam dates only at the last minute.

The administrative staff has been reported to be unsupportive and dismissive. Students have faced quite a lot of hurdles at the hands of the administration. The ineptitude of the team severely impacts the student life at the University.

Final Verdict

The Savitribai Phule Pune University has a lot of areas it has to work on so that it can become a quality centre of education and excellence. Students thinking of joining the University can check the pros and cons of the University given below: