PEC Chandigarh seeks CFTI tag to escape bureaucratic red tape and secure more funding

PEC Chandigarh Seeks CFTI Tag to Overcome Funding and Administrative Challenges
PEC University of Technology, formerly known as the Punjab Engineering College, is one of the oldest technical institutions in India, established in 1921 in Lahore. After the partition of India, the institution was shifted to Roorkee, and finally, in 1953, it was moved to its present location in Chandigarh, the capital city of Punjab and Haryana.
PEC Chandigarh has a rich legacy of producing highly skilled and competent engineers who have contributed significantly to the development of the nation. It is a premier institute for engineering and technology education and has produced several distinguished alumni, including Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, and Dr. Kirpal Singh, former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University.
Despite its illustrious history, PEC Chandigarh has been facing several challenges in recent years, ranging from a lack of
funding and inadequate infrastructure to a shortage of permanent faculty members. To address these issues, the institution has been seeking the CFTI (Centre for Technical Institutions) tag to overcome bureaucratic red tape and secure more funds.
What is CFTI?CFTI is a government initiative aimed at promoting excellence in technical education and research in India. The program is designed to provide financial support and administrative autonomy to technical institutions that meet certain criteria, such as infrastructure, academic excellence, faculty strength, research output, and industry collaborations.
The institutions that are granted the CFTI tag are eligible for a larger share of the government budget, which can be used to enhance infrastructure, upgrade facilities, and attract high-quality faculty members. In addition, these institutions are granted greater autonomy in decision-making, enabling them to respond more quickly to changing market demands and industry needs.
Why PEC Chandigarh Needs CFTI?PEC Chandigarh
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was once on par with Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in terms of academic excellence and research output. However, over the years, the institution has fallen behind due to a lack of funding, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of permanent faculty members.
The institution is currently managed by the Chandigarh administration, which, in turn, is managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. As a result, PEC Chandigarh receives a limited amount of funding, which is often delayed or insufficient to meet the institution's needs.
The conversion of PEC Chandigarh into an IIT or an NIT (National Institute of Technology) may not be economically or politically feasible, according to officials. Therefore, the institution has been seeking the CFTI tag to secure more funds from the union government budget and bring it directly under the Ministry of Education.
What Are the Benefits of CFTI for PEC Chandigarh?
If
PEC Chandigarh is granted the CFTI tag, it will enjoy several benefits, including:
1. Increased funding: The institution will be eligible for a larger share of the government budget, which can be used to enhance infrastructure, upgrade facilities, and attract high-quality faculty members.
2. Administrative autonomy: PEC Chandigarh will have greater autonomy in decision-making, enabling it to respond more quickly to changing market demands and industry needs.
3. Enhanced industry collaborations: The institution will be better placed to forge partnerships with industry, leading to more research and innovation opportunities.
4. Improved academic standards: With increased funding and administrative autonomy, PEC Chandigarh can enhance its academic standards and research output, bringing it on par with other premier technical institutions in the country.
Challenges in Obtaining CFTI for PEC Chandigarh
While the CFTI tag has several benefits for technical institutions, obtaining it is not an easy task.