BPUT Readies To Start Dual Engineering Courses Amid Opposition From Private Colleges In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: As per its decision taken last year, Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT), Rourkela is gearing up to start dual technical programmes from 2022-23 academic session.

The university offers two programmes – five-year Integrated MTech and BTech – on five existing technical courses such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electronics and communications engineering and computer science engineering.

The admission to the integrated courses will be made through Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) committee on the basis of JEE main ranking. The new programmes will be run in the main campus of the university.

The integrated programme will help students save one year as it usually takes six years to get both BTech and MTech degrees, said vice-chancellor of the university Dr CR Tripathy. “We are also planning to offer dual degree in more such programmes and advance courses such as artificial intelligence. We will offer these programmes after filling up the vacant teaching posts in the university,” TNIE quoted him as saying.

The university has a sanctioned strength of 25 faculties for five existing courses. However, 17 of these posts are lying vacant.

The students can take admission to the course after completing class XII. There will be intake of 40 students for each programme. “If a student does not want to study for five years, he can get a BTech degree after completion of four years. But, those who will complete five years, will get an integrated MTech degree,” said Dr Tripathy.

On the hostels for new students, he said the campus has facilities to accommodate 400 boarders. Two more hostels are under construction and will be completed in less than two years, he added.

It may be noted that the approval for the new programmes by the BPUT Board in July last year had drawn opposition from private engineering colleges affiliated to it. OPECA secretary Binod Dash had said while over 60 per cent seats are falling vacant in private engineering colleges and technical colleges, the decision may affect them further.

Instead of creating UG infrastructure, BPUT should focus on MTech course and set up centres of excellence to promote research in the university, he added.