PEC University of Technology, formerly known as Punjab Engineering College (Hindi: पंजाब इंजिनियरिंग कॉलेज), or PEC for short, is an engineering institute located in the city of Chandigarh, India. It offers engineering studies in various disciplines at the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Numerous graduates of PEC have worked in the task of nation-building since the Independence of India in 1947.
The institute is the Alma mater of the Space Shuttle Columbia astronaut, the late Kalpana Chawla, the North American actor Remi Kaler and the satirist Jaspal Bhatti among many others. PEC celebrated its 50th year of establishment in India in the year 2000. A popular event in the festivities was the millennium function called Mile-nahi-hai-hum (We have not met) organized by the alumni association. In 2004, PEC was given the Deemed University status and it is no longer affiliated with Panjab University, Chandigarh.
[edit] About PEC
After partition of the country, the Punjab College of Engineering & Technology, Lahore (formerly known as the Maclagan Engineering College) of the pre-partitioned Punjab remained in Pakistan under the name of "East Punjab Engineering College". From December 1947, it functioned in the premises of the Thomson engineering College, Roorkee now known as Indian Institute of Technology (Roorkee). In 1950, the word "East" was dropped and the college was named as "Punjab Engineering College". At the end of year 1953, the college shifted to its own premises built at Chandigarh and started functioning here from January, 1954. In 1994 this institution was adjudged the best technical college in India by the National Foundation of Engineers.
Up to 1962, the college had departments of Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Thereafter the college expanded and gradually added five new departments in the fields of Aeronautical Engineering, Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Production Engineering and Computer Science Engineering. Recently a new department of Information and Technology was added. In the year 1957, Highway Engineering was added as the first post-graduate course in the college. Gradually other post-graduate courses were subsequently added. Presently there are eleven post-graduate courses leading to Masters of Engineering degree in Highways, Structures, Hydraulics and Irrigation, Rotodynamic Machines, Electrical Power Systems, Environmental Engineering (Interdisciplinary), Electronics Metallurgical Engineering and C.I.M. Facilities for post-graduate studies exist for regular as well as for part time students.
The college has facilities for research work leading to the award of Ph.D. degree in engineering in certain selected fields of different disciplines. The college also offers consultancy services in different disciplines. The students of the institute have bagged second overall position in the annual Baja SAE INDIA 2009 challenge.
PEC has been conferred the Deemed University status in 2004. Recently the name of the college has been changed to PEC University of Technology. PEC is currently ranked as the 17th best engineering college in India by OUTLOOK Group.
[edit] Location
The University is situated in Sector 12 at the north end of Chandigarh. The premises of the University is within a few minutes walk from the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, the Panjab University, Post graduate Institute Of Medical Education And Research (PGI). The campus is 9 km from the Chandigarh Railway station and 5 km from the bus stand situated in sector 17.
[edit] Campus
The University campus extends over an area of 146 acres of the land situated close to the beautiful Shivalik hills. The campus is divided into various functional zones like hostels, Main College Building, Administration Block, Residential Complex for staff and faculty and a shopping centre. In addition to lecture theatres, tutorial rooms and drawing halls, the college has an auditorium, library, computer centre, reading rooms, workshops and well equipped laboratories. The University has spacious playgrounds, tennis courts, squash courts, swimming pool, gymnasium and a students centre. There are branches of State Bank Of India & Punjab National Bank and a post office in the campus. Adequate Hostel facilities for both boys and girls are available in the campus.
[edit] Academics
The Ubiquitous Steam Engine
Production Engineering Department Building
- Bachelor of Engineering courses (8 semesters):
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics and Electrical Communication
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Production Engineering
- Information Technology
- Master of Engineering courses (4 semesters):
- Civil Engineering (Highways)
- Civil Engineering (Irrigation and Hydraulics)
- Civil Engineering (Structures)
- Environmental Engineering (Inter-disciplinary)
- Electrical Engineering (Power Systems)
- Electronics Product Design & Technology
- Mechanical Engineering (Rotodynamics)
- Electronics Engineering
- Industrial Materials and Metallurgy (IMM)
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
- Part-time Master of Engineering courses (6 semesters) for industry and government sponsored candidates
- Doctoral Research opportunities available at all departments
[edit] Admissions
[edit] PECFEST
The annual PEC fête organized by the students. Considered to be the biggest event of the college attracting many sponsors and including all kinds of events - technical events, quizzes, workshops, game shows, concerts (aka Rock Night), fashion shows, and a city level beauty peagant. In 2006 the pop group Euphoria enthralled audiences with a varied selection of songs. For the three days that the fête lasts all studies are suspended and a carnival like mood is set up. Innovative publicity stunts include a city-wide rally involving a huge convoy of cars and bikes shouting slogans. Also the videos for preparations for the PECFEST 2007, fondly given the name 'PECFEST Nau-do-Gyaarah' scheduled on FEB 9-11, 2007 are available on youtube. Pecfest 6, promised to bigger than the previous year is scheduled on 7th, 8 and 9 November, 2009. Further details: Official Site
[edit] Student Organisations
- ISTE at PEC - Indian Society For Technical Engineers (Student Chapter)
- IEEE at PEC - The Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers Student Chapter
- IETE at PEC - The Institute of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers Student Forum
- SAE at PEC - The Society of Automotive Engineers Student Chapter
- SME at PEC - The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Student Chapter
- EDC at PEC - Entrepreneurship Development Circle
- IIF at PEC - The Institute of Indian Foundrymen Student Chapter
- Projection Design Club
- Communication Club
- Music Club
- SAASC - Speakers Association And Study Circle
- Dramatics Club
- Art and Photography Club
- Environment and Energy Club
- Rotaract Club
- English Editorial Board
- Hindi Editorial Board
- Punjabi Editorial Board
[edit] Notable alumni
- Awtar Singh - Renowned Geotech Consultant, Los Angeles; B.E. Civil (1949)[1]
- Vijay K Dhir - Dean-School of Engineering and Sciences, UCLA; B.E. Mechanical (1965)[2]
- IIMS Rana - Chairman, Railway Board, Civil 1965[3]
- Monte Ahuja - Founder, Chairman & CEO, Transtar Industries; B.E. Mechanical (1968)[4]
- Rajinder Singh Manhas - Seattle Schools Superintendent; B.E. Aeronautical (1971)[5]
- Ramesh Gupta - Fellow IEEE, Managing Director, COMSAT Laboratories (1995-2001), Vice President, AMCOM, B.E. Electronics (1974)[6][7][8]
- Steve Sanghi - Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Microchip Technology Inc; B.E. E&EC (1975)[9]
- Sunil Saigal - Dean, Newark College of Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), B.E. Civil (1978)[10]
- Jaspal Bhatti - Satirist, comedian, film-maker; B.E. Electrical (1978)[11][12]
- Raman Sud - Vice President of Engineering, OATSystems; B.E. E&EC (1981)[13]
- Gurpreet Singh Arora - Managing Director, Orion Electronics Ltd, Budapest, Hungary; B.E. E&EC (1982)[citation needed]
- Kalpana Chawla - Space Shuttle Columbia astronaut; B.E. Aeronautical (1982)[14]
- Remi Kaler also known as Remi Clair- North American Actor; B.E. Civil (1984)[citation needed]
- Digvijay Chauhan - Co-Founder and CTO of AskMe Corporation; B.E. E&EC (1989)[15]
- Kanwalinder Singh - President, QUALCOMM India; B.E. E&EC (19??)[16]
- Sanjay Gupta - Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Heidrick & Struggles International; B.E. ?? (19??)[17]
- Rajesh Vedvyas - Managing Director, Indraprastha Gas Ltd.; B.E. E&EC (19??)[18]
- Vinay Johar - Director, Connoisseur Infotech Pvt. Ltd.; B.E. Aeronautical (19??)[19]
- Rajat Bhatla - Senior Technical Architect , Infosys;B.E. E&EC(1999)
[edit] Alumni Associations
- PECOSA - Punjab Engineering College Old Students Association. PECOSA is the official alumni association recognised by the institute.
- PALS - PEC Alumni Society
- PALS North America - PEC Alumni Society North America Chapter email list
- PECOBA - Punjab Engineering College Old Boys (sic) Association email list.
- PECOBA USA - PECOBA USA members email list
- PEC at USA - Another popular email list of Pecobians in the USA
[edit] External links
- Punjab Engineering College - Official Website
- Pecfest 5
- PEC to welcome students with its new name - Times of India, 3 May 2009
- Top institutes in queue for the education city - Proposal to convert PEC into an IIT- Times of India, 10 January 2007
- PEC’s 1981 batch meets - Indian Express, 27 December 2006
- Philanthropic act: NRI donates $30 mn to US hospital - Economic Times, 16 December 2006
- Singh promoted as QUALCOMM Senior VP - PALS, 24 August 2006
- Now, PEC opens doors to students from abroad - including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and foreign nationals to its Bachelor of Engineering courses. Indian Express, 12 July 2006
- PEC to admit international students from next session - Times of India, Chandigarh, 7 January 2006
- Around 100 more seats available at PEC now - Tribune, Chandigarh, 6 January 2006
- Ticking off the teacher? - Students to evaluate their teachers. Times of India, 6 December 2005
- PEC boys on top of IT - Tribune, 3 September 2005
- Punjab Engineering College remembers Kalpana - Indian Express, 3 February 2003
[edit] References
Coordinates: 30°45′54″N 76°46′51″E / 30.76492°N 76.78070°E / 30.76492; 76.78070
