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Journalism of Courage
The Birla Institute of Technology and Science BITS, Pilani, Rajasthan, figures sixth, next only to the IITs, in engineering studies and allied disciplines. In effective functioning from 1964, the institution 8212; the only deemed-to-be university started and sustained by a private enterprise 8212; is definitely one of the most sought after destinations for thousands of young aspirants aiming to become engineers. With the cut-off percentage between 90 to 95 per cent at the 102 level, normalised with respect to the score of the top-most applicants, the BITS boasts of having enrolled an average 14 to 16 state-board toppers every year.
Deriving its prowess from the excellence in its technical instruction, BITS, the very heartland of life in the town of Pilani, is the place any student would look to, for excelling in his or her field. Especially as it keeps pace with the increasing demands of the engineering industry, both in India and abroad.
The institute offers a three-tier structure for the courses in engineering and the allied fields. Besides offering the regular degree B. E. Hons in disciplines like chemical, civil, mechanical, computer science, electrical and electronics instrumentation also offered are Masters in management studies, B. Pharm Hons and M. Sc. Honours. Other courses included are M. A. English and M.Sc.Tech in finance, information systems, and science and technology development. In addition, distance learning and collaborative programmes are offered, like Master of Vocational Studies, Footwear Technology, B. Sc. in Physician Assistant, Power Engineering, Process Engineering technology, information systems and engineering and industrial technology.
The rationale of offering allied courses which promise to provide a broader and more diversified base while keeping the nature of the instruction fundamentally engineering-oriented is the professed commitment of BITS to keep abreast of the changing times and demands of the engineering industry. Thus communications, management and information technology have become unalienable parts of a whole composite of the work culture in this era of globalisation and opening economies.
The most striking feature of the course programming and scheduling is the multi-disciplinary dual degree modular flexible system. This was incorporated in the institution to provide students a chance to do two degrees at the same time. This enables them to improve their chances of shifting onto other fields and offers them diverse exposure.
8220;The philosophy behind the highly lenient set of rules for imparting instruction is to make the process of education more participative and challenging for the students. For they are the ones making the choices and decisions, thereby developing their sense of initiative and decision making,8221; opines Prof S. Venkateswaran, Director, BITS. The flexibility of the system helps the students to adapt their career prospects to the demands of the industry and make an aptitude-oriented decision about their careers, says Venkateswaran.
A well-established and sustained network of industry linkages for Practice Schools8217; internship programmes with over 150 industrial units gives BITS an edge over other institutes in terms of providing a real feel of the professional field. 8220;The linkage network sustained and developed over a period of time has paid dividends richly as the placement rate with BITSians have been almost a 100 per cent,8221; says Venkateswaran.
A developed infrastructure, a highly committed faculty, innovative work methodology and the growth-oriented course structuring along with a well oiled administrative acumen is what makes BITS, Pilani, one of the top-most institutes in the country for technical education in engineering. Not to be forgotten, though, are the BITSians who, with their getting-the-job-done attitude, have complemented these attributes in the best possible manner by way of achievements in their respective fields.
