PUNE UNIVERSITY - Integrated M.Tech-PhD course begins

TOI NEWS -

PUNE UNIVERSITY 

PUNE: The University of Pune's (UoP) much talked-about integrated M.Tech-Ph.D course, a brainchild of former vice-chancellor Raghunath Shevgaonkar, will be formally launched by industrialist Baba Kalyani on Friday.

The four-year integrated programme for post-graduate science and engineering graduates as well as working professionals from the industry, has been positioned as the country's first-of-its-kind industry-academia initiative that aims at enhancing quality of the university-level research and developing technologies, which can be put to application for local as well as global requirements.

The university has carved out an independent faculty of technology from the earlier faculty of engineering, to run the M.Tech-Ph.D course. Four boards of studies in the areas of mechanical and materials technology; computers and infotech; chemical and biotechnology; and electronics and electrical technology have been set up for running the research projects.

A S Padalkar, dean of the new technology faculty, told TOI, "In all 36 students including 18 working professionals, have been selected in the maiden M.Tech-Ph.D batch. Excluding working professionals, each of the remaining student will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 24,000, which is even more than the fellowships given by the CSIR/UGC and IITs, and these will be sponsored by the seven industry partners."

He said, "Prominent industries including Bharat Forge, Zensar Technologies, Persistent System, Forbes Marshall, Thermax, Praj Industries and KPIT Cummins have supported the programme."

Referring to the issue of ownership of patent arising out of the joint industry-academia research programme, Padalkar maintained that a needless row was sought to be raised on this front by a section of the media whereas there was no dispute between the UoP and the industry partners. "We are going by the standard practices and will follow the IIT model on the patent aspect," he said.

He said, "The first year of the programme will essentially be the course work by the university and the remaining three years will see the students working on live applied research in the industry. Most students, who are now part of the maiden M.Tech-Ph.D batch, constitute a healty mix of science and engineering background."

Padalkar said, "The UoP has plans to constitute a fifth board of study in the area of civil and environment technology, mostly likely from the next academic year."

The UoP has created a 13,000 sq ft space on the campus for the new technology department, which has four classrooms, a library and a computer room with internet and allied facilities for research students to access online journals etc., he said.

Shevgaonkar, who is now director of IIT, Delhi, will be special guest at the launch ceremony scheduled for 4.15 pm at the varsity's PUMBA auditorium. Officiating vice-chancellor Sanjay Chahande will president over the function.