St Aloysius College granted Deemed University status by UGC, Central government
Mangaluru: The renowned education institution of the city St Aloysius College (Autonomous), has been granted the status of a university, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education, Government of India, approving of the proposal by the college administration board.
Addressing a press meet on Thursday, Fr Melwin J Pinto, who is the Rector, and Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, the Principal of the College, said that the autonomous college will be called 'St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) Mangaluru', starting January 25, 2024.
Expressing delight at the unique opportunity provided to serve the cause of higher education, they said, "The UGC and the Ministry of Education, after making a thorough study of the College proposal on various parameters like physical and digital infrastructure, curricular design, research and innovation, graduate outcomes, student attainment levels, placements, vision and mission of the institution and its impact on the society along with the considerations of the higher levels of successive NAAC accreditations, NIRF and distinctive rankings and achievements, has granted the university status to the College."
The rector and the principal added, "This status enables the institution to create a sustainable ecosystem driven by globally competitive curricula, high-end research, innovations and entrepreneurship initiatives.
It provides unprecedented opportunities to explore possibilities for robust collaborations with regional, national and global partners to facilitate interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies with joint and twinning programmes providing cross cultural learning exposure to students."
St Aloysius College, which was established in 1880 by Jesuit fathers, has been a premier higher education institution on account of its distinctive achievements of serving the local youth and moulding them into people with qualities of commitment, competence, compassion and conscience. The College, having a national and global presence, earned an autonomous status in 2007 and has continued working at setting higher benchmarks in all criteria related to higher education. It has also consistently maintained top notch credentials in all the four cycles of NAAC accreditations at the national level reaching A++ grade with a CGPA of 3.67 out of 4 and NIRF rankings showing the College within the top 100 Colleges for 3 consecutive terms, they said.
Calling the new status granted to the College the result of the dedicated and tireless efforts of the management, staff, students and all stakeholders who shared the long and sustained dream of the well-deserved status of a university, Fr. Pinto and Dr. Martis added, "As the College embarks on a new and exciting journey spearheading its educational endeavours towards creating men and women for and with others, it places on record its immense gratitude to all the collaborators, men and women of goodwill, esteemed alumni and recommits itself to serve the society with greater dedication and take utmost efforts to create a difference in the society."
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Pizza Hut China debuts unusual bullfrog pizza, sparking mixed reactions online
Beijing : Pizza Hut China has taken a bold step into culinary experimentation by introducing a limited-edition pizza topped with deep-fried bullfrog, a move that has garnered both curiosity and criticism online. The unconventional dish was first highlighted by global food trend expert David Henke, who shared a photo of the new menu item on X (formerly Twitter), noting the diverse protein preferences in different cultures.
The pizza, known as "Goblin Pizza," features a thick crust, red sauce, a layer of parsley, and a whole deep-fried bullfrog as the centerpiece. The frog's "eyes" are created with halved hard-boiled eggs, each topped with a black olive, making for a visually striking presentation. According to Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, the unusual offering is a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons, inspired by a character from the game.
Details about the availability of this new creation are limited, with no specific information provided on Pizza Hut’s official website. However, the quirky menu item has already become a talking point on social media, drawing a mix of reactions ranging from shock to curiosity.
On Reddit, a photo of the pizza was shared, fueling further debate. Some users labeled the dish as “pure blasphemy,” while one user went so far as to say, “This pizza is a felony.” Another asked, “Why ruin a pizza like that?”
Not all feedback was negative; one commenter admitted that while the frog might be off-putting, they'd be more accepting if the pizza underneath was satisfactory. Another joked, "You can ribbet this right into the garbage."
Amidst the critique, there were voices of intrigue. One foodie defended the dish, saying, “Fried frog legs are so good! Maybe next time, shred the frog leg meat and add it to the pizza—that would be pretty good.”
