COEP's precursor, The Poona Engineering Class and Mechanical School was opened in July 1854, its aim being to provide suitable instruction for subordinate officers in the Public Works Department. The School was situated in Bhawani Peth, Poona , and the accommodation consisted of three small detached houses for teaching purposes and a separate house for the Principal.
The college has been recognized by AICTE, UGC and University of Pune and given full academic autonomy. All academic programmes, the academic calendar, examinations, results are managed by the Senate of the college. The Sandwich pattern courses, the only one of its kind in India, were introduced in Mechanical, Electrical and Metallurgy (1974) and Production (1995) and are well accepted by industries and the students as well.
The college has been a lead network institute under the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) of the Govt. of India. It has received a grant of Rs. 25 crores under TEQIP project which has been effectively utilized for upgrading and modernizing a number of laboratories and class rooms. This has invigorated the college atmosphere. Funds from various Central Government agencies like AICTE, DST, CSIR, ISRO etc are received for various R&D projects. The college being in the industrial hub of the country also receives a large number of consultancy and testing projects. The college at present has 2 Mbps connectivity which is being upgraded to 10 Mbps. Every department in the institute and the hostels has computer laboratory with internet connectivity.
