Southfield College, Darjeeling jointly with Darjeeling Hills University, Darjeeling organized an Inaugural Lecture on “Challenges of building a University” with Prof. Tanka Bahadur Subba, Indian Anthropologist & Former Vice Chancellor, Sikkim University as the featured Speaker. His remarks covered a range of social, economic, and political issues that arise in building and maintaining a University. Professors and students from 13 hill colleges of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, Darjeeling Hills University and Sikkim University attended the inaugural lecture. Prof. Prem Poddar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Darjeeling Hills University responded to the inquiries and questions of many professors and students.
Southfield College was founded as Loreto College, in Darjeeling in August, 1961 as a women’s college. At the request of the Government of West Bengal, the Irish Branch of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Darjeeling Loreto Educational Society agreed to take care of its management. However, due to the lack of personnel the Loreto nuns were compelled to hand over the college to the Government of West Bengal, hence to be run as Southfield College.