- Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology
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Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology विश्वेश्वरय्या राष्ट्रीय प्रौध्योगिकी संस्थान 
Motto योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्
Yogah Karmasu KaushalamEstablished 1960 Type Deemed university Chairman Prof. S.K. Joshi Director Dr. Sadanand Gokhale Academic staff 218[1] Undergraduates 2,500[1] Postgraduates 600 Location Nagpur, Maharashtra, India Campus Urban
215 acres (87 ha)[2]Website vnit.ac.in Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, also referred to as NIT, Nagpur, is a premier engineering college in central India. The college was established in June 1960 and named in honor of engineer, planner and statesman, Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.
VNIT, formerly known as the Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering (VRCE), was established by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra. The Parliament of India conferred the National Institute of Technology status on the college in 2002, and granted it Institute of National Importance status in 2007.
Contents
History
The college was established as the Regional College of Engineering, Nagpur in 1960, under an education program of the Government of India. The State College of Engineering, established in 1956 by the Maharashtra Government in the city, was merged with the college.
The first academic session at RCE started in June 1960, with classes temporarily being held at the Government Polytechnic, Nagpur. Subsequently, the Maharashtra Government granted 212 acres (86 ha) to the college for building its campus.
In 1962, the Board of Governors of the college resolved to name the college for Sir Visvesvaraya.
In 2002, the college was conferred the National Institute of Technology status, and renamed as VNIT. In 2007, it was conferred its status as an Institute of National Importance. VNIT faculty and staff will mentor the newly established National Institute of Technology, Mizoram during the academic year 2010-2011.
Campus
The institute is located in the western part of the city near Ambazari Lake, about 8 km from Nagpur Railway Station and 15 km from Nagpur Airport. The three main entrances to the 214 acre campus are the Main Gate on South Ambazari Road, the Bajaj Nagar Gate and the Yashwantnagar Gate.
The campus has abundant greenery. Most students live on the campus, which has over 10 men's hostels and 3 women's hostels.[3] On-campus housing for faculty is also available as an option. The campus is fully networked using fiber optic cables.
The institute's library houses over 150,000 books, in addition to thousands of journals and periodicals. A digital library subscribes and provides students, researchers and staff access to hundreds of additional electronic journals and technology related websites.
The campus health-care center caters to primary and urgent care requirements of students and staff.[4] The campus has facilities for auditoriums, a computer center, sporting facilities, a State Bank of India branch, cafes, coffee shops, a co-op store and a post office.
Chandrama is an on-campus cafe open all night and popular among VNIT's resident students. Open since 1978, it is the most popular hangout spot for the nocturnal creatures at VNIT, and is particularly crowded during exam season. India Coffee House operates another popular on-campus cafe. Workshop Tapri is the informal name for a popular tea and coffee shop near the Mechanical Workshop on the campus. However it has been replaced by students with a nearby tapri called Deepak and doctor tapri Near the abhayankar nagar gate.
Administration
As an institute with university status, VNIT operates with complete autonomy in financial, academic and administrative matters. The institute's Board of Governors manages the institute. The board has representatives from the Government of India, Government of Maharashtra, All India Council for Technical Education, University Grants Commission, the institute's faculty and illustrious Indian scientists or technologists.
The Student Council, composed of elected student representatives, plays an active role in various student affairs such as Academics, Training & Placement, Technical Affairs, Sports and Cultural Activities.
Academics
The institute has 14 academic departments, with over 30 specialized laboratories and research centers.[2]
- Applied Chemistry
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Mechanics
- Applied Physics
- Architecture and Planning
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Humanities
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
- Mining Engineering
Undergraduate programs are offered in Architecture and the 8 Engineering disciplines. The Engineering programs are usually of 4-year duration, while Architecture has a 5-year program. VNIT accepts an incoming freshman class size of up to 738 students.[5]
Graduate and research programs, leading to Master's and Ph.D. degrees, are offered by the Architecture and all the Engineering departments, except Mining Engineering. A range of special fields of study are available in graduate and research programs in each discipline. The institute is very soon going to offer Aeronautical Engineering and upto 350 students are admitted to the Master's program each year.[6][7]
The institute uses relative grading on a 10-point scale.
Admissions
Admissions to the undergraduate course is through the All India Engineering Entrance Exam.[5]
80% of students to the post-graduate programs are admitted based on performance in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. These students receive stipends and tuition assistance from the institute and the Indian Government. Another 20% of students are admitted based on industry or other research organization sponsorship, with full tuition typically paid by the sponsoring institution.[6]
Student life
VNIT offers students opportunities to pursue a range of interests. The National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme are national organizations with active student participation.
VNIT hosts an active chapter of SPIC MACAY, which promotes classical Indian music, dance and culture. Hamsdhwani is a student Hindustani classical music group. A number of amateur rock bands and music groups are formed at VNIT and perform at local events. Past popular bands have included Drakshya, Glasnost, Morphine, Rust, Saints of Metal and Vighn.
Other popular student clubs include:[8]
- IEEE Students' Chapter holds workshops, guest lectures and seminars year-round
- Quiz Pro Co., a quiz enthusiasts club
- Thalassemia Awareness Society
- Club Capture, a photography club
- ACM Student Chapter
- Robo Bank, a robotics club that provides financing, technical support and component inventory for building robots
- Prayaas
The student clubs host a number of annual fests or events, inviting participants from similar clubs across the region or the nation, including:
- Axis, a science and technology fest[9]
- Aarohi, a music and cultural festival
- Consortium, an entrepreneurship and business management event[10]
- QuizFest, an annual quizzing event[11]
A gymnasium and various sports facilities are available on the campus. VNIT Sports Fest (VSF) is an annual, multi-event sports competition for students. College teams also participate in regional championships in a number of sports.
Alumni
VNIT has an active alumni network, with chapters across India, in the United States and in Europe.[12]
Notable alumni
Alumni occupy a number of senior executive positions in India and abroad. Some notable alumni of the institute include:
- Prof. Samir Barua, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
- Pradeep Kar, Chairman and Founder of Microland
- Hemant Karkare, Late chief of Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad
- Dinesh Keskar, President, Boeing India
- Satyendra Pakhale, notable Indian Industrial Designer
References
- ^ a b "Annual Report, 2010". VNIT. http://vnit.ac.in/images/annual_report_english_2010_final.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ a b "Campus Information". VNIT. http://vnit.ac.in/index.php/about/inst-info.html. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "Hostels". VNIT. http://vnit.ac.in/index.php/campus-life/hostel.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ "Health Centre". VNIT. http://vnit.ac.in/index.php/campus-life/health-centre.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ a b "Undergraduate Programs". VNIT. http://vnit.ac.in/index.php/academics/-undergraduate-courses.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ a b "Postgraduate Programs". VNIT. http://vnit.ac.in/index.php/academics/post-graduate-courses.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ "Ph.D. Programs". VNIT. http://vnit.ac.in/index.php/academics/-ph-d.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ http://live.vnit.ac.in
- ^ http://www.axisvnit.com/home.php
- ^ http://www.consortiumvnit.com
- ^ http://www.qpc.in/
- ^ "V-Alumni Network". http://alumni.vnit.ac.in/. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
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