As many as 289 graduate and post-graduate pass-out students of University institute of
Engineering & Technology, (UIET) Panjab University(PU), Dr S.S. Bhatnagar University
institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology (UICET) and UIET, PUSSGRC Hoshiarpur
received degrees at the Degree Award Ceremony held at PU Auditorium today.
Padma Bhushan award recipient Dr Fakir Chand Kohli, Chairman Emeritus of Tata
Consultancy Services, known as Father of the Indian Software Industry, conferred the
degrees. PU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Arun K. Grover, Dean University Institutions (DUI)
Prof. Madhu Raka, Registrar Prof. A. K. Bhandari, Chairperson UICET Prof. R. K. Chhabra,
Director UIET Chandigarh Prof. Renu Vig, Director UIET Hoshiarpur Prof. J. K. Goswamy
and other senior officers were also present during the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fakir Chand Kohli said that India produces six to seven
thousand top class engineers from IITs and similar institutes in a year. About three
thousand of them migrate abroad for higher education and about one thousand others opt
for business management courses. This leaves an insufficient number of graduates, who
have received quality education to undertake masters and doctorate programmes.
Suggesting solution to this problem, he said that if the country could upgrade 50-60
other colleges, which admit to students having more than 85 per cent marks, to the level
of IITs than India would be able to produce 25,000 to 30,000 top class engineers.
Dr Kohli said that India has 1200 Engineering colleges but many of them were without
adequate faculty, laboratories and libraries. India need top class engineers to innovate
engineering processes, foster creative product development, to meet faculty requirements
and to build strong and world class graduate schools in engineering leading to research,
more masters and doctorates.      
Dr Kohli also stressed for faculty development, faculty collaboration and curriculum
development. Curriculum should be frequently reviewed to obviate obsolescence, he added.
He also referred to the importance of electronic connectivity, networking and financial
support to the students.