UPG College of Management, Mumbai

Miloni Sheth writes abouther college and why she thinks it’s the best place to study

Suburban Utopia
Vile Parle – popularly known as Parla, the heart of suburban Mumbai – is home to Usha Pravin Gandhi (UPG) College of Management. UPG is part of the famous SVKM trust series of higher education institutes. This trust is also responsible for NM College, another well-known Mumbai college. UPG College was established in the year 2003. It is strategically located right between its sister, NM College, and Mithibai College. It is affiliated to Mumbai University.
UPG’s infrastructure is remarkable. Importance is placed on facilities. Classrooms, washrooms, staff rooms, computer labs and even corridors have been given plenty of attention and care to ensure they have the right ambience to make education a fun and immersive experience. Classrooms are equipped with air conditioners and each class even has its own projector to make lessons and lectures more interesting and interactive.

Study Options
UPG is a fairly new college, but has already come to be recognised as one of the best higher education institutes for the Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) course. Other degree courses offered here, which are just as popular as BMM, are Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS), BSc in IT and a two year integrated
postgraduate course – MSc in IT (part 1).

Food, Friends and Fun
The canteen, fondly called Aditi by us students, is our favourite place to hang out. The canteen is common to three colleges – UPG, NM and Mithibai – which means this place is always full of students and no one is ever bored when they are here. The food at Aditi is wide-reaching because of its allencompassing menu. While the usual South Indian and North Indian items are available, there are also a variety of parathas and a thali for those who like their meals to be elaborate and satisfying. And for those who are tired of regular Indian fare, there are Chinese and Italian items.
Stepping out of the campus, there are umpteen places to eat, drink and make merry. The Chocolate Heaven is easily the preferred hang out. All items here are prepared using chocolate. The local vada pav stall in the college’s vicinity, Dheeraj Vada Pav, is easily one of the top 10 vada pav stalls in Mumbai. This place is also known for its delicious sandwiches, dosas and dabelis. Apart from these, there is also a Café Coffee Day, Mad Over Donuts, McDonald’s and Subway in the area. But nothing tops Juhu Beach which is only a short auto ride away!

Festivals Galore
UPG is the first Mumbai college to have an international film festival of the students, by the students and for students, organised in collaboration with amateur filmmakers. Christenend 16:9, it is a popular festival. But the most awaited student festival is always Aahan. Held annually in the month of January, Aahan sees students from all course streams – BMM, BMS and Bsc – work in tandem to put together a festival that covers a range of topics, from media and business to IT and sports.

Extracurricular Activities
College life is thoroughly enriched with a host of activities for students of all talents and abilities. We UPG-ites are particularly proud of our Rotaract Club. Through this club, we perform community service in the form of hands-on field work, and have workshops and seminars for us as well as affluent members of society. The club also provides a global platform via Rotaract International which gives us national as well as international networking and socialising opportunities. Our Rotaract Club was placed fifth among 120 Clubs in the year 2012.
The National Service Scheme on campus also focuses on social service with its aim to “inculcate the social welfare thoughts in the students, and to provide service to the society without any prejudice”. UPG also has Women Development Cell to spread awareness of women’s rights and their roles in today’s society.

UPG Achievements
• 1st runner-up at Enigma Festival by R. A. Podar College of Economics and Management
•1st place in Folk Dance Competition at Youth Festival organised by Department of Students Welfare, University of Mumbai
•Overall 4th position at St. Xavier’s College’s festival, Malhar
•1st place in the Chaka-Chak event (beach cleaning) at Malhar
•Overall 4th place at Umang Fest organized by NM College

Rotaract Events at UPG
•Mauj-E-Manch: cultural festival for orphans, the underprivileged, disabled and differently-abled kids
•From Pieces to Piece: connecting with the youth of Rotaract Club, Lahore, through a video conference
•Nanhe Haathon se… Maa tujhe Salaam!: making Diwali greetings with differently-abled children for our jawaans
•Youthanation: raising our voice against couples indulging in indecent PDA that tarnish the name of Indian youth
•Wake Up Kid: gifting kids on streets and in slums with pens, books, clothes, toys, etc
•Project N. A.I.L (Nip it at its lar vae): distribution of medical supplies that prevent malaria; held in malaria-prone Madanpura
•The Wall Project: hand-painting beautiful and scenic pictures on the dirty, moss-filled walls of Saki Naka in Mumbai