College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) is an engineering college in Pune, India. Established in 1854, it is the third oldest engineering college in Asia, after the College of Engineering, Guindy (1794) and IIT Roorkee (1847). The students and alumni of College Of Engineering, Pune are colloquially referred to as COEPians. In 2004, the institute was granted complete autonomy by the state government. The institute now is an autonomous engineering school with permanent affiliation to the University of Pune. The college's study model was referred to in the early 1950s as the 'Poona Model'. The institute contends that its autonomy now grants it greater flexibility in dynamically changing its syllabus to suit the changing needs of the industry. COEP is located at the confluence of two rivers, the Mula and the Mutha. The college was one of the first few colleges established by the British to serve the Indian subcontinent. The foundation stone of the new college was laid by the Governor, Sir Bartle Frere, on the 5 th August. In June Mr. Theodore Cooke, M.A. who held that appointment for 28 years was appointed Principal.