PTU & University of California to Set up an Institute of Excellence in Chandigarh

Punjab Technical University (PTU) on 6 January announced to set up an Institute of Excellence (IOE) at Chandigarh for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal also welcomed UCSC to set up IOE campus in the New Chandigarh Education City which will be spread over 2,000 hectares.

Chief Minister Badal added that he assures to help foreign institutes in all possible extents for any requirement or permission and the cost for set up will also be borne by the state government. He also said that his aim is to make Punjab a better alternative offering a quality education Hub, which currently is enjoyed by Delhi in North India.

With an aim to create a world-class technical education institution to support advancement of aspirations of students of Punjab and entire India the MoU was signed by PTU vice-chancellor (VC) Rajneesh Arora and UCSC chancellor George R Blumenthal.

The IOE is to focus on providing high quality technical education in streams Bio-Engineering, Bio-Informatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Network & Digital Technology, Robotic Engineering, and Technology & Information Management etc. The PTU shall offer degrees to students upon completion of the course for few years until IOE receives the authority to grant degrees.

UCSC being the partner of the institute will also provide free teaching curriculum, methodology and test/exams to IOE at par of the study material and pattern being run at its US counterpart.

Students will also be able to choose to transfer to UCSC for completing their undergraduate or graduate education if they meet UCSC’s admission and other criteria in place at that time. The degree will be offered by UCSC in this case.

A seven member Board of Trustees or Governing Council including eminent academicians, UCSC representatives, industry representatives and government representatives will govern the IOE. The first Chairman of the Board of Trustees is to be appointed by the Governor of Punjab upon the recommendation of the state government.