Having set up a committee to look into the prospects of reviving the glory of Presidency University, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, on Friday promised all cooperation to the city's premiere St Xaviers' College for its upgradation to the status of a university.

“I have asked the Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University to prepare a project report in this regard and send the proposal to the State government for consideration. The State government will ensure all cooperation to upgrade the status of the college,” Ms Banerjee said while addressing the students and faculty members at the fifth convocation and valedictory of the college here today.

Ms Banerjee also urged the college to open branches in the State's Jangalmahal region and Siliguri. On the request for allotment of land for setting up of the second campus of the college, she said that the State government would look into the matter.

“We want to create more and more universities and we can start with St Xaviers',” Ms Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister also called upon the students to put the college on the top in the sphere of education with their effort and with the expansion of this leading institute.

“We need to set up more institutes of excellence and education hub to promote the state's academic environment and enlighten the future of our next generation,” she said.

Established by Jesuit missionaries in 1860 A.D., St Xavier's College was granted autonomy in the year 2007. The autonomous college, one of the first in the state, can frame its own syllabus, start new courses and conduct examination on its own. According to the college authorities they will review their autonomy after five years in 2012.

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