The Don Bosco community envisioned that quality professional education in computing as a realistic strategy to guarantee the employability of rural youth. A non-formal computer training and software development center (named as BICS InfoTech) was begun in 1998 to provide professional education. Sixty students were admitted per year for the one-year and three-year academic programmes. BICS signed a memorandum of understanding with CDAC-Pune and IGNOU to conduct diploma and degree programmes.
The institute functioned under three wings: Bosco Institute of Information Technology (BIIT), the Professional Education wing that prepared the students to become employable and obtain a degree from IGNOU; Bosco InfoTech Services (BOSCO ITS) for software development and training for the graduates who passed out of BIIT; Arivagam (in 2006) as Knowledge Resource Centre. While the students pursued a BCA Degree from IGNOU, a rigorous postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology (PGDIT) was offered for the students. BIIT educated more than 1000 rural students in a span of a decade, as professionals in Information Technology. Most of them are placed in the industry or service sector as developers, testers, graphic artists, technical writers, hardware technicians and teachers.
The primary objective in professional training was making them competent communicators using English. The students from the rural background were able to speak and write in English fluently within three months. 100% job placement was the end result of complying with the requirements of the institute. In a moment of divine providence, the 50th year of Rev. Fr. Guezou’s arrival to Yelagiri Hills (1962–2012) marked a significant milestone: the transformation of BICS InfoTech into Don Bosco College, affiliated to Thiruvalluvar University. This transition heralded a new era of higher education and social empowerment in the region.
In 2012, the college introduced three foundational undergraduate programs: B.Sc. Computer Science, B.C.A., and B.Com. (CA). Building on this success, B.B.A. was launched in 2014, along with an additional section for B.C.A. and the introduction of B.A. English. The consistent increase in enrolment and graduate employability led to the expansion of offerings. In 2015, B.Sc. Mathematics was added, and the Department of Computer Science was elevated to the Postgraduate Department.
A year later, in 2016, the Communicative English Academy was inaugurated to enhance students’ language proficiency. By 2017, the Department of English was elevated to a Postgraduate Department, and Computer Science became a Research Department. To nurture technical curiosity, an IORT Lab was established in 2018, along with the DB Fitness Centre to promote student well-being and sportsmanship. In 2019, the institution proudly obtained ISO 9001:2015 Certification, reflecting its commitment to quality.
2020 saw the opening of Carlos Café for boys, providing nutritious meals and refreshments, followed by the creation of the Fr. Guezou Herbal Garden in 2021, and the Miyawaki Forest, inspired byJapanese ecological methods. The same year, initiatives like Don Bosco Cares for Common Home and Laura Café for girls were established, alongside the Cagliero Multimedia Centre, enhancing e-content creation and academic flexibility. NSS Unit-I and the Bakhita Tailoring Unit were also introduced to foster volunteerism and entrepreneurship among female students. By 2022, the college had expanded its outreach through the introduction of the Rovers Unit. With a growing number of aspirants aiming for military and police careers, the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies was launched. In 2023, B.Sc. Mathematics with Computer Applications was added to further bridge science and technology. Then came the crown jewel in 2024 - Don Bosco College was Accredited by NAAC (Cycle-I) with CGPA of 3.03 at ‘A’ Grade, a testament to its academic excellence. The AKAIL-Lab was also founded the same year to spark student interest in Artificial Intelligence. Today, the college has seven major departments offering seven programmes of study with a total strength of about 1200 students. Don Bosco College strives continuously to apply indigenous methods and strategies to ensure students are qualified, employable, and capable of living an integrated life.
