PEC Kickstarts “Envisioning PEC @2025”
The Voice of Chandigarh News:
Dharam Pal, Advisor to the Administrator, visited Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University) to identify the forthcoming goals of PEC and to come up with a strategic plan on a short-term and a long-term basis to achieve these goals.
The Programme started with an interactive presentation by Prof. Baldev Setia, Director of PEC, through which he apprised the members of the shortcomings, strengths and future goals of Punjab Engineering College. Beginning with a brief introduction to PEC and its vision, the session continued to address the shortcomings and future vision of the institute. He mentioned that the institute has a shortage of faculty and realising that faculty is the single most important factor, PEC has already started to work towards it and had received 1973 applications for recently advertised 58 vacant faculty positions in various departments. He also expressed his concerns regarding the low enrolment of PhD scholars and MTech students which he assured that the institute will work towards.
Summarising the presentation and envisioning a bright future for the institute by 2025, the Director assured that no stones will remain unturned to bring back the glory of PEC. As a step towards this, he presented certain reforms, steps and initiatives that are already being taken by PEC. It includes organising national and international conferences, and workshops regularly. Promoting research by providing financial incentives to the faculty members and also building a Central research facility for the students and faculty members to conduct more research and publish quality papers. He also put forward some goals to work upon, including enhancement of research publications (number and quality), new academic programmes in niche areas, maintaining high academic standards, achieving 100% placement, improving industry-academia integration, modernisation of labs and goal to attain the faculty-student ratio of 1:12. Strengthening of alumni linkages and expansion of infrastructure are some other goals the institute is focused to work upon.
The Session continued with the Dharam Pal, IAS and Advisor to the Administrator making significant suggestions to the members present. He suggested more active participation of the faculty of the Institute and the proactive role of the Board of Governors in evaluating the performance using key performance parameters. A constant review of the performance of the faculty of the Institute was also suggested. He recommended the formation of a separate committee to see the key performance areas of the institute in specific reference to the NIRF and other accreditation parameters. The Chandigarh Administration offered all possible support to make PEC as an Institution of National Importance.
Rajinder Gupta, Chairman BoG stated that the focus should be on the bright future of PEC and also assured a proactive role of the Board of Governors of PEC.
After the presentation session, all the dignitaries visited the Centre of Excellence (Siemens) and the Semiconductor Research Centre, ECE Department to examine the advanced research and design-oriented equipment.
The Adviser was accompanied by Rajinder Gupta, Chairman BoG, PEC, Hargunjit Kaur, Secretary Industries, Amandeep Singh Bhatti, Director Technical Education, Mr. Rajiv Kalia, Chairman CII, Mr. Suman Preet Singh, Director CII.
