Senate of Serampore College (University)


The Senate of Serampore College is an ecumenical regulatory and affiliating body for Christian theological education, which works in partnership with Bible colleges, seminaries and theological research institutes in the Indian subcontinent that comply with its regulations and standards. The college was founded by the Baptist missionaries Joshua Marshman, William Carey and William Ward, to give an education in arts and sciences to students of every "caste, colour, creed or country" and to train a ministry for the growing Church in India. It is located in Serampore in West Bengal, India. Serampore was granted the status of university by King Frederick VI of Denmark in 1829.

History

Since Serampore was then a Danish colony, King Frederick VI, the King of Denmark, issued Serampore College its Royal Charter of Incorporation on 23 February 1827, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The charter came in response to Baptist missionary Joshua Marshman's visit to King Frederick in August 1826; the charter gave Serampore College the privilege of awarding degrees in Arts and Theology. Baptist missionaries William Carey, Joshua Marshman, and John Clark Marshman were designated as members of the first Council. At its opening, the Trio released a prospectus which proposed "A College for the instruction of Asiatic Christian and other Youth in Eastern Literature and European Science." The college was open to all persons of any caste or creed, and the founders ensured that no denominational test would apply to faculty members.
After 22 February 1845 when Denmark sold all of its Indian assets to Britain, the management and operation of the college continued without interruption under the direction of a master and council. In 1856 the Baptist Missionary Society in England took over the management of the college and, in 1857, the college became affiliated with the newly established University of Calcutta and became a constituent college of that university. In 1883 the college closed as an arts college and began functioning as a Christian Training Institution and a theological institute for the Baptist churches in Bengal.
The Royal charter has also been confirmed by the Bengal Govt Act. IV of 1918.

Accreditation and Charter

The Senate of Serampore College draws its power to award degree from the Royal Charter awarded by King Frederick VI of Denmark, giving the Senate of Serampore College the status of a degree granting university. Through the Danish Charter, Serampore became the first institution in India to be given the status of a university.
The Senate of Serampore College is not accredited by any other theological association, academic body or council. Also, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council has given its accreditation only for the secular degree programs of Serampore College, a sister institution, for the degrees that are awarded through University of Calcutta.
The degrees that are awarded by Senate of Serampore are not recognised under the UGC Act for the purpose of the Section 22 of the Act and are awarded by Senate without the need for approval of the University Grants Commission. Seminary students having degrees that are not listed under UGC Act of Section 22 are not eligible to sit for public service examinations, or avail public employment or government research grant, etc. based on their degrees. However, "Students of Serampore College in the Faculty of Theology are, entitled to all the privileges of students in any of the other universities and colleges in India."
Senate of Serampore College practices autonomy in the preparation of its curriculum in partnership with the affiliated colleges.

Degrees awarded

Presently, the Senate of Serampore College restricts itself to award of degrees pertaining to theology.
The degrees conferred by the Senate of Serampore are not recognised under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 for the purposes of Section 22 of the Act. These degrees are awarded autonomously by the Senate.
Most Universities in India neither recognise nor accept the Senate of Serampore degree for higher studies program and as eligibility criteria for doctoral studies. As such the doctorate received from the Senate can only be used within the ecclesiastical context of the recipient.
Students of Senate of Serampore are not eligible to appear for public service examinations, nor to seek public employment or government-funded research grants on the basis of such qualifications as their degrees are not listed under Section 22 of the UGC Act.
However, “Students of Serampore College in the Faculty of Theology are entitled to all the privileges of students in any of the other universities and colleges in India.” This provision is limited to Serampore College which is different from other theological colleges that are affiliated to the Senate.
The theology curriculum of Senate includes various courses offered in the fields of religion and culture including the study of Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Theology, Study of Classical Biblical Languages: Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Greek, other classical languages: Sanskrit, Arabic, Syriac, Pali, German, Latin etc., Study of other Major Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism; Ministry related courses such as: Homiletics, Christian Worship and Music, Pastoral Care and Counselling, Clinical Counseling, Christian Education, Communication, Social Analysis, History of Christianity, Missiology, Contextual Theologies and Christian Ministry.
The following are the degrees awarded to students through its affiliated colleges throughout India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka:

Diploma programmes

Officers of the Senate

  • President: The Rev. Zacharias Mar Aprem
  • Convenor: Vangsanglura,
  • Registrar: The Rev. Limatula Longkumer, D. Th.
  • Treasurer: The Rev. Samuel Akumarthi

Constituent colleges

  • Serampore College, Serampore
  • South Asia Theological Research Institute, Serampore

    Affiliated colleges

    • Other affiliated centres

    Affiliated centres as of 2014 for the purpose of Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counselling.
    • Karnataka
    • *Christian Medical Association of India, Bangalore
    • Kerala
    • *Life Enrichment Counselling and Training Centre, Idukki district
    • *Mar Thoma Hospital Guidance, Trivandrum
    • *T. M. A. Institute of Counselling, Kottayam
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Christian Medical College, Vellore, Vellore