Rayat Shikshan Sanstha's Azad College of Education, Satara came into existence in 1955 and managed by Rayat Shikshan Sanstha (R), which was established in 1919.

It is one of the premier colleges established to impart & provide in the field of higher education for the deserving candidates and prove to be a milestone on the part of progress.

The college is affiliated with Shivaji University, Kolhapur formerly affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune and it is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) & 12(B) under Act, 1956. 

It is recognized and approved by National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), Bhopal & Govt. of Maharashtra.

It is re-accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with "A" Grade (CGPA Score 3.14 on a 4 Point Scale in 2nd Cycle) on 10th March 2012.

The main aim of the college is determined to provide the quality education to the future teachers. With the correct mix of technology and human touch, the college empowers the aspiring teachers to propagate education through the rungs of the society so that they serve the nation while making a satisfying career for themselves.

It is a co-educational private Institute, providing a regular course in which is located in the rural part of Satara played a pioneering role in the field of higher education.

To meet the dire need of the trained teachers for the secondary schools, particularly in the rural areas more training colleges were required.

Moreover, the government was not in a position to open secondary training colleges so the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, the voluntary agency vehemently decided to enter in the field of teacher education at the secondary level with or without government financial assistance.

By this time the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha has successively started a number of secondary schools in the remote areas of the state with co-operation of rural people.

These schools needed a large number of trained teachers for the effective functioning. Realising the basic need of secondary schools, the founder of the Sanstha opened secondary teachers training college in 1955 at the historical place Satara city.

To commemorate the memory of the late Honorable Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then first education minister of Government of India the college was renamed as Azad College of Education in 1958.

In the year 1964, the college was shifted in the new spacious building having 8 rooms with modern amenities which were built through the loan of Rs.30,000/- sanctioned by the Government of Maharashtra and the donations collected from other sources.

The college also received the many achievements awards in the field of Teacher Training at Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

The college offers two years Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) course for those who have completed their graduation with minimum aggregate of 50% from any recognized university are eligible to apply for this course.

Students here are admitted who completed their graduation from the recognized university with at least 50% marks in major or in aggregate at the Degree level. But Scheduled Castes (S.C.), Scheduled Tribes (S.T.) & (O.B.C) candidates are to be entitled to a relaxation 5% marks ineligibility for admission.

The college also offers two years Diploma in Education (D.Ed.) course for those who have completed their intermediate with the minimum aggregate of 50% from any recognized college/university under the affiliating to Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nashik.

Students here are admitted who completed their intermediate from recognized college/university with at least 50% marks in major or in aggregate at the intermediate level. But Scheduled Castes (S.C.), Scheduled Tribes (S.T.) & (O.B.C) candidates are to be entitled to a relaxation 5% marks ineligibility for admission.

The postgraduate course in education (M.Ed.) was started in the year 1963 and was carried out up to 1998.

Due to the N.C.T.E. norms, the M.Ed. course in all colleges of education was discontinued since 1999.

University examinations of different courses, examinations conducted by the Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and various other examinations are held in the college premises.

Vision:

• Towards the excellence in teacher education

Mission:

• To be an institute with excellence in providing skillful, competent, self-reliant, research-minded and socio-culturally committed teachers through training with innovative practices in teacher education to uplift the society in order to meet the enormous global challenges

Objectives:

• To be an excellent teacher education institute
• To provide skillful, competent, self-reliant, research-minded and socio-culturally committed teachers to attain desired social change
• To train the student-teachers with innovative practices in education
• To promote capabilities for inculcating national values and goals as enshrined in the constitution of India
• To sensitize the teachers with global challenges for rural reconstruction and rural upliftment

A variety of teaching and learning techniques are employed to impart knowledge and skills to students at Rayat Shikshan Sanstha's Azad College of Education, Satara in its various departments.