History
The American Presbyterian Mission’s work in western Maharashtra was started in 1852 by the Rev. Royal G. Wilder. In 1884 an epidemic of bubonic plague swept away nearly a third of the population of Sangli, a city of 20,000 people and capital of the native state of Sangli. The sympathetic missionaries opened an orphanage and provided food and shelter to forty-four motherless children. This was the beginning of Sangli station, which later became one of the larger stations of the mission.
The station’s educational work was represented by a flourishing kindergarten in an attractive garden and playground. Sixteen village primary schools were started, and a Bible Training School to train evangelistic workers.
In 1888 the Sangli Industrial and Agricultural School was started, the only institute of its kind in a wide area. Since then the school has been rapidly progressing. The institution was headed by eminent missionaries as Principals:
| 1 | Mr. John Jolly ( Founder ) | 1891-1895 |
| 2 | Mr. Wilson | 1896-1914 |
| 3 | Mr. Harry Brown | 1914-1954 |
| 4 | Rev. Robert Ramer | 1954-1960, 1965-70, 1975-84 |
| 5 | Rev. Jack Seibert | 1960-1965, 1970-75 |
| 6 | Mr. A. A. Mackasare | 1984-1991 |
| 7 | Rev. D. S. Gosavi (In-charge) | 1991-1994 |
| 8 | Brig. (Retd.) George Mathew | 1994-1997 |
Since 1997, Mr. Sandeep William Raut has been leading the institution. It is making excellent progress academically, as well as being a production centre, giving good experience and advanced knowledge to the students and providing the institution with extra income.
The institute is an Training Institute based for industry , conducting technical courses like Motor Mechanic, Fitter, Electrician, Carpentry, Welder, Wireman, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic, Tailoring, Two Wheeler Mechanic, Computer etc. The main objective of this institute is to educate the students from rural, semi -urban, urban and remote areas, who are not financially sound. Hence, we are focused on these types of students, so as to encourage them to stand somewhere in this high paced world and ever advantage technology.
During the period of about 123 years we educated many students from the different parts of Maharashtra who are either employed in a reputed company/organization or have started their own business. We are now aiming on the students to upgrade their educational standards by providing graduation level training for build up the entrepreneurship skills in them and get self – employment. To achieve this object we are proposing to start Engineering College, which will help to achieve graduation level education for student in their respective skills.