HBTI gets autonomy, to be developed as 'centre of excellence'

Lucknow, Mar 10 (UNI) Harcourt Butler Technology Institute (HBTI) at Kanpur, one of the oldest engineering institutes of Uttar Pradesh, has been granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC) after a gap of about a decade.

''From now onwards, HBTI would administer on its own which includes examinimg mechnaism also,'' R N Singh, the Special Secretary of Technical Education department, UP told UNI here today.

HBTI, so far affiliated to Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU), has achieved autonomy after a team of UGC decided in its favour. It used to be an autonomous institution till 1998-99 but the sustained efforts by the authorities helped getting the status back.

Established in 1921, the premier engineering institute is one of government institutes under affiliation of UPTU, regarded as one of the largest technical universities in Asia with affiliation of over 300 colleges.

Sources said HBTI was the only engineering institute of the state to get autonomy and the government would now develop it as the 'centre of excellence'. A plan in this regard was already under preparation, sources said.

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