Upgrade Vizag's AU College Of Engineering to Institute of National Importance: Vijaysai Reddy

Visakhapatnam: Rajya Sabha MP V.Vijayasai Reddy in a special mention urged the Union government to upgrade AU College of Engineering to Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (IIEST) as per the recommendations of Anandakrishna Committee.

He said that as part of giving impetus to higher education the government had constituted the Anandakrishnan Committee to identify institutions for upgrade to the level of Institutes of National Importance. These institutions were to be called the ‘Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology’. The committee submitted its report and recommended that five institutions be upgraded to the level of IIEST. Andhra University College of Engineering in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, had been recommended for an upgrade.

The objective behind creating IIESTs was to have a new system of institutions in technical education and give emphasis on research. IIESTs offer five-year integrated dual degrees in engineering, five-year integrated M.Sc, and aim to focus on research. They also have specific provisions for international students and faculty.

“Unfortunately the report hasn’t been implemented and no proposal has been mooted to upgrade the Andhra University College of Engineering to the level of IIEST. It has been nearly 14 years since the report was submitted by the committee,” said the MP.

He requested the government to introduce and pass a Bill to upgrade the Andhra University College of Engineering to IIEST with new departments like renewable energy, naval architecture, ship-building, water, and environmental research. In 2014 the Bengal Engineering College had been upgraded to an IIEST, while the Institute of Technology, BHU, became an IIEST in 2012.