NIT selected for TEQIP: Official

Tiruchirapalli, Aug 22 (UNI) The National Institute of Technology here (NIT) has been selected as a leading institution under the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) for a period of five years beginning 2004 for which a sum of Rs 209 million had been sanctioned.

NIT Director M Chidambaram told newsmen here today, TEQIP comprised three components -- academic excellence, networking and services to community and economy.

As many as 31 faculty members were trained under TEQIP in countries like the US and the UK. Expert faculty members from abroad were also invited to deliver guest lectures, training NIT faculty in modernising laboratory facilities in various departments.

To a querry, he said to enhance the knowledge in the recently introduced topics in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science and laboratory skills for higher secondary school teachers from nearby places, the NIT had organised several programmes.

It had taken initial steps to organise courses on basics of computers for teachers and students of panchayat union middle schools located in and around rural areas.

The students conducted classes during free time as service to the society. They had already held such classes in 12 schools located in ten villages.

In this context, the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was kind enough to donate and install 50 personal computers in ten middle schools in and around NIT.

The alumini association of the Regional Engineering College (REC), Tiruchirapalli, the former name of NIT, had mobilised Rs 30 lakh for renovating Panchayat Union Middle School buildings at Thuvakkudi and Vazhavanthankottai Villages. They also mobilised another Rs 60 lakh for similar purpose.

The NIT also completely renovated both Physics and Chemistry laboratories for standard XII students of a government school near Thuvakudi On placement, he said the overall placement through campus was cent per cent for undergraduates and 94 per cent for post graduates during academic year 2006-07.

UNI