The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has asked the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) to submit a four-year project plan as part of upgrading the varsity to an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST).
The Ministry has directed the university authorities to submit a break-up plan on how it will utilize the proposed initial budget of Rs. 500 crore sought in the detailed project report on converting it to an IIEST.
The Hindu has reliably learnt that the varsity has prepared a detailed report highlighting its priorities and underlining the measurable parameters for the upgrade. The departmental-wise projects to be undertaken once Cusat becomes an IIEST is a key component of the report.
The varsity has refined its earlier proposals after the MHRD asked it to elaborate on the essence of the detailed project report.
The Ministry wanted Cusat to list down its academic and infrastructure targets for a period of four years.
The Ministry also asked the university to submit the details of the academic equipment to be purchased as part of elevating it to an IIEST. Cusat has now submitted the financial requirement for carrying out construction activities in connection with the IIEST proposal. A departmental break-up on the activities to be carried out has been forwarded to the MHRD.
A panel headed by M. Anandakrishnan, former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, had suggested that institutions identified for upgrade to an IIEST would have to re-structure the academic programmes. The structure of the programmes should be flexible to provide options to students to take courses across disciplines, so that IIEST graduates had an edge over others and are actively sought out by employers.
