Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, Kolkata was established in 1960. It is affiliated to West Bengal State University.

Acharya Prafulla Chandra College was founded on 16 August, 1960 under the Dispersal Scheme-with the joint participation of the State and Central Governments. Late Haripada Biswas was the founder secretary of this college. Initially it was named 'New Barrackpore College'. Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, after whom the college has its present name, was a great educationist with a vision. It was he who wanted universal literacy; he spoke of 'basic education' and 'utility education'; he advocated the concept of empowerment of women; he wanted the development of indigenous industries through cultivation of entrepreneurial acumen of the educated youth. In the true spirit of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, the college from its nascent state, has tried to propagate the ideals of this great man and the motto illustrates this; "Service, Knowledge, Sacrifice".

MISSION & VISION

Today’s Higher Education has witnessed a paradigm shift from elitist esotericism to common man’s right to knowledge. This college is trying to adapt itself to this new way of thinking. The semi-urban location of the college caters to the needs of students who come from the grass-root level; some of them are even first-generation learners. The college is trying hard to set a pedagogic goal that is less hectoring and instructional and more learner-facilitating. With this aim in mind the college is successfully running Degree Courses on 22 subjects both Honours and General, two Vocational / Major Courses, five Post Graduate Courses (self sponsored) in Microbiology, Electronic Science, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science and three Distant Learning centres. The growing demands of the job market have promoted this college to introduce the study of the comparatively modern subjects. However, the college is equally keen in simultaneous teaching of the traditional subjects. Moreover, professional course like BBA is also operational.

The mode of Distance Education has received a great impetus in this area through the Netaji Subhas Open University Study Centre, Indira Gandhi National Open University and a Post Graduate Distance Learning Programme on four subjects viz, Bengali, English, History and Education under DODL of Kalyani University.

There is scope to study computer science in the college at three different levels. For students wanting to master the subject the college offers Computer Science Honours; for those who would learn computer Science as an auxiliary, vocational discipline, the college has an EGTS course (Employment Generation Training Scheme sanctioned and funded by the Ministry of Information Technology, Govt. of India). Over and above the Institute of Computer Engineers (India) runs a computer centre named ‘A.P.C. College Computer Centre’ for all categories of students from inside and outside the institution. The courses here are tailor-made to meet the requirements of enterprising boys and girls.

So, the intention of the college is to harmonize the traditional and the experimental.