CUSAT will be the first Institute of Excellence in Engineering,
Science and Technology from Kerala. Already with an excellent
infrastructure, an additional Rs. 500 crore in the coming 3 years will
raise it to a world class centre, unmatching in the state. CUSAT has
already received Rs.15 crore of this.
Kerala may follow suit on Cusat
Saturday July 21 2007 13:10 IST
KOCHI: With the West Bengal Government agreeing for reservation of 50 percent of seats for students from West Bengal in the Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) as part of its upgradation, the Kerala Government too is likely to follow suit on Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).
The upgradation of Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) and Cusat was delayed after both the governments put up suggestions for total control of the institution after upgradation.
One of the suggestions was to allow 70 percent reservation for the students from their own states. Later, West Bengal agreed for 50 percent.
Education Minister M A Baby told this website’s newspaper that the government was yet to receive any information from the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).
Discussions were held with MHRD Minister Arjun Singh and if they came up with any suggestion, the government would consider it.
The proposal of the Union Government was that the IIESTs would enrol students from across the country.
The states would have to hand over their institutes to the Centre.
The admissions to these institutes would be through All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) or All-India Joint Entrance Examination. The board of the institute comprises a chairperson, an exofficio director, two persons to be nominated by the Centre (not below the rank of joint secretary), two persons to be nominated by the state (technologist or industrialist) and two professors.
It is learnt that Cusat has already received Rs 15 crore as the first instalment for the upgraation. The amount was released after the State Government gave the concurrence for upgrading the university with the fund of MHRD.
The other two institutes which will be upgraded to the status of IIEST are Andhra University College of Engineering and Osmania University College of Engineering and Technology in Andhra Pradesh. The budgetary recommendation is Rs 2,407.86 crore for these institutions during the 2007-2012 plan period.
The upgradation of Bengal Engineering and Science University and Cusat was delayed after both the governments put up suggestions for total control of the institution after upgradation.
