Newly launched NIIT University to offer BTech, MTech, PhD in IT from Sep 09

The university offers PhD programs in Computer Science & Engineering, Educational Technology and Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, MTech Programs in Computer Science & Engineering and Educational Technology and BTech Programs in Computer Science & Engineering, through customized curriculum aligned to the industry needs.

Speaking on this significant development and commenting on the road-map ahead, Mr Rajendra S Pawar, Pro-Chancellor, NIIT University, remarked, NIIT University is designed to shape great careers for tomorrows Knowledge Economy. We are dedicated towards building careers and ensuring exceptional job opportunities. NIIT University delivers seamless education using proven technology, creates a research culture from day one and builds deep industry linkages, to help provide career focused education to all its students.

According to NIIT University, while the idea of the University was seeded in the 90s, a cross-section of leaders from Academia and Industry came together in 2005 as the Founding Advisory Board members for shaping the Vision, Mission, Core principles and Objectives of the NIIT University.

The Founding Advisory Board members included: Prof P V Indiresan, Former Director, IIT Madras; Prof C S Jha, Former Director, IIT Kharagpur; Dr Kiran Karnik, Former President, NASSCOM; Prof R C Malhotra, Former Director, IIT Kanpur; Dr R A Mashelkar, Former Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Prof Ashok Misra, Former Director, IIT Mumbai; Prof M P Kapoor, Project Director, NIIT University and Former Vice Chancellor, Thapar University.

With an emphasis on building careers, Mr Rajendra S Pawar, Pro-Chancellor, NIIT University, said, A deep connect with industry is the hallmark of NIIT University. The curriculum is directly aligned to the needs of industry. Six months, or a full semester, is devoted to Industry Practice for undergraduates or an Internship for post graduates to ensure rich hands-on experience in the workplace. Accomplished industry professionals will teach a significant proportion of all programs; and the entire curriculum will be regularly updated by an Industry Advisory Board and Academicians to maximize relevance. The connection will also reflect through Industry sponsoring research and providing senior managers as Visiting and Mentor Faculty at the University.

NIIT University will use cutting-edge technology in all its functions and activities such as content development, teaching-learning pedagogies, evaluation and testing, learning management and university management. Synchronous Learning Technology allows students to be connected face-to-face with faculty from across the world. The University will also offer a large e-learning library on diverse range of topics with extensive computing facilities, thereby ensuring vast reservoirs of latest knowledge available right at students fingertips, further says Mr Pawar.

Commenting on the research project, he says, Developing minds trained to approach every problem through the eyes of the researcher is the need of the hour in todays complex and fast changing information economy. Hence at NIIT University, research is approached as a methodology and every student, irrespective of discipline, will have hands-on experience in applying research methodology on a variety of problems. Each Program includes at least one Research Project aimed at providing sufficient exposure. Incubation centers will be set up at the University, to take successful R&D projects to the drawing board for effective implementation as live projects.
Mr Pawar further adds, The curriculum focuses on providing students with occupational, spatial and temporal mobility in todays globalized economy. Seamlessness is about maximizing students choices and ensuring that they receive all round holistic education with minimum artificial constraints. Seamlessness is embodied by our motto Learn What You Want, How You Want, Where & When You Want, But Learn You Must!

Designed to integrate with nature, The NIIT University is master-planned by YRM (London) Ltd., a world-renowned campus architecture firm. The unique pedestrian only campus layout, ensures that cars are left at the parking bay near the entrance. From there the campus is comfortably explored on foot via the pedestrian promenade that meanders across all high traffic areas. This promenade runs through various building blocks and seamlessly unifies the campus, he says.

Mr Pawar comments, The Universitys sensitivity to the environment finds resonance in its distinctive Geothermal Cooling, through a network of Earth-Air tunnels, which act as an enormous self-regulating heat sink for the campus, with very little electricity required to cool or heat the ambient temperature. The design of the green campus incorporates one of the largest known earth-air tunnel installations in the world, and also harnesses wind chimney for a natural ventilation effect.

The NIIT University, a not-for-profit institution sponsored by NIIT Limited, is planned under the Government of Rajasthan Education (Gr4) Department Guidelines for the Establishment of Private Universities by separate Act dated 26.07.2007. A Letter of Intent (LOI) to this effect from the Government of Rajasthan was received vide letter No F-3 (24) Edu. IV / 2005 dated July 10, 2008. The necessary compliance report has been filed with the authorities of the Government of Rajasthan after addressing all requirements stipulated in the aforesaid LOI. The first admissions cycle for PhD, MTech and BTech programs is now ready to begin for the academic year 2009-10, on receiving the Government notification.