| April 18, 2023 | 15 views

History and Overview

Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University) is an engineering college located in Chandigarh. It is a Public research institution and is considered one of the top engineering Colleges in India. This institute has a vast history starting from its establishment as Mughalpura Technical College in Lahore in 1921. Since then it changed names multiple times until being finally called Punjab College of Engineering and Technology in 1939. After the partition of India the institute was shifted to Roorkee and called East Punjab Engineering College. Later the college committee dropped the word east from the university and in 1953 it was finally relocated to its current address which is in sector 12 Chandigarh.

After 1953 and formation of Chandigarh as a union territory of India, PEC came under the control of the Government of India. In 2003 it was given the status of deemed university and renamed Punjab Engineering College (Deemed University). In 2009 a new name for the institution was suggested which was PEC University of Technology but it was rejected by University Grants commission (India) and the college was finally named Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University).

Campus

Punjab Engineering College campus is spread over an area of 149 acres. It is situated on the north side of Chandigarh and is near to the Shivalik hills. The institute is located in sector 12 Chandigarh close to Panjab University which makes it an ideal location for students as they can socialize with other students from around the city.

The College campus is divided into various structures areas which include hostels, administrative block, new academic building, residential complex, main building, and a market. Further these buildings house classrooms, seminar halls, auditorium, open air theater, workshops, and laboratories. The hostels are on the campus and aim at assisting students to find all kinds of necessary services on campus including banking and post office.

Departments

The Punjab Engineering College offers a wide variety of courses in the field of engineering and technology. Along with the traditional subjects in this field the college has also incorporated modern and new growing subjects. The courses are mainly divided into undergraduate, postgraduate, and research studies which fall under different departments. These departments are:

  • Aerospace Engineering: Department of aerospace engineering was established in PEC Chandigarh in 1962. This department has grown exponentially over the years with continuous changes in the particular field. The laboratories have over the time upgraded to world class facilities to equip students with modern knowledge. This department has one of the strongest student bodies that aim to grow the field of aerospace engineering as well as personal growth. A student can opt for both B.Tech. and M.Tech. in aerospace engineering. Research projects are seat based and admissions for these are decided by the faculty of the particular department.
  • Applied Sciences: Applied science department offers a variety of core courses in different scientific fields. These include physics, mathematics, chemistry, humanities, and geology. In this department students can opt for elective subjects like economics, sociology, psychology, and many more. This helps students diversify their playing field when looking for jobs in the real world. The faculty in this department is aptly qualified with most teachers having a doctorate in their particular subjects and others pursuing it while teaching.
  • Civil Engineering: Civil Engineering is one of the traditional streams of engineering. PEC has a vast number of students opting for civil engineering as the college is known for its modern curriculum. The department has kept up with times and aims at teaching students all the latest knowledge in this field using new methodology. You can opt for different specializations like transportation engg., structures, engg., and water resources engg. PEC offers both B.Tech. and M.Tech in Civil engineering.
  • Computer Science and Engineering: For a relatively newer sector in the history of our world computer science is the fastest growing international industry. It is responsible for globalization at a rapid extent. This is one subject that the majority of engineering aspirants aim at studying in their dream colleges. Same is the case with PEC. A highly sought after department, it offers both B.Tech. and M.Tech. in computer science with elective subjects. The Ph.D. admissions are seat and academic background based. All the notifications can be found on the PEC website. The computer science and engineering department also houses a state of art computer centre that caters to students from all the streams.
  • Electrical Engineering: Electrical engineering is another traditional stream of engineering which is still as popular. This is one such field which has never lost its importance in the global economy. It is because advancements in fields like machinery and artificial intelligence are standing on its roots. Students can opt for both B.Tech. and M.Tech. in electrical engineering at PEC Chandigarh. The doctorate programme in electrical engineering from PEC is always on the lookout by students.
  • Electronics and Communication Engineering: This department offers all undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate programmes in electronics engineering with multiple subject options. Admissions in this department are difficult as cut offs are generally very high. The college aims at creating great researchers and leaders in the field of electronics and communications. This department aims at forwarding scientific advancements in fields of wireless, micro processing, and other related subjects.
  • Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical Engineering is the most popular engineering stream for students around the world. This Department is the oldest department in this institution and still stands high to this day. PEC offers all undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate programmes in mechanical engineering. A well-structured department, the faculty here is world class and the workshops/laboratories are highly equipped to help students learn all the new as well as old practical concepts in the field.
  • Metallurgical and Materials Engineering: This department is known for offering a comprehensive curriculum in all its courses be it undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctorate. Students opting for this department should stand shoulder to shoulder with students from the best institutions around the world. The extensive practical work along with live workshops help students grasp the knowledge minutely which is beneficial to their careers.
  • Production and Industrial Engineering: The main aim of this department is to create future leaders in the field based on industry requirements around the world. The subjects are carefully curated to meet the needs of the world economy. This helps increase the employability of students opting for this department. Students can opt for all undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate courses.

Facilities

Punjab Engineering College is not only one of the best engineering colleges in Punjab but also in India. This is mainly because of the world class facilities it offers to its students so that they don’t have to rely on outside sources to get the best of their course curriculum. Some of these facilities include:

  • Hostels: There are 4 boys (Shivalik Hostel, Himalaya Hostel, Kurukshetra Hostel, and Aravali Hostel) and 2 girls (Kalpna Chawla Hostel, Vindhya Hostel) hostels in PEC Chandigarh. The institute aims at providing the best hostel facilities to students including hygienic nutritious food, common area, washing facilities, and all over Wi-Fi access. The rooms are well maintained and adhere to the best hostel standards around the world.
  • Library: The central library built on an area of 27000 sq. feet is a one of its kind facility with the best collection of books and other literary material for students. It is a common place for undergraduate, postgraduate, and research students along with the faculty to sit and study. The sectioned library is manned by professional staff to avoid any kind of inconvenience.
  • Computer Centre: First established in 1994 the computer centre at PEC Chandigarh houses some of the best quality of hardware and software for students to train on. The computer centre has been upgraded many times since 1994 and continues to do so to keep up with the changing technology. This primarily serves as the training hub for students to grow their practical skills, but there are also separate hubs within the computer centre for students to conduct research and complete projects & assignments.
  • Laboratories: PEC provides students with best in the world laboratories to understand the practical aspect of their curriculum. The laboratories are well equipped and meet the standards of many great engineering colleges around the world.
  • Sports: The institute also wants students to focus on their physical well being which is why the campus is equipped with a well maintained track field, swimming pool, and gymnasium hall. These facilities encourage students to take part in sports like volleyball, football, cricket, basketball, lawn tennis, hockey, and badminton.
  • Medical Facilities: The campus also houses a dispensary for students and staff to visit any time free of cost. The dispensary is well equipped with first aid medical facilities and trained doctors. In case of severe emergencies patients can be referred to PGIMER or GMSH- 16.
  • Workshops: The College also has facilities for students to participate in workshops like automobile, carpentry, electrical, electroplating, welding, sheet metal, fitting, and many more.

Admissions

Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University) offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research studies which are B.Tech., M.Tech., and Ph.D. The admission process in all these streams is different and is as follows.

  • B.Tech.: Admission in B.Tech. is based on the JEE mains exam which is a national level exam in India to get admission into engineering colleges. The admissions are purely based on cut off in a particular year and the number of seats in different courses.
  • M.Tech.: Admissions in M.Tech. are based on the GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam which is another national level admissions test to get admissions into masters programmes in the field of engineering. Admissions are based on cut off in that particular year and also the number of seats.
  • Ph.D.: Admissions in Ph.D. is based on GATE score and/or interview by the specific faculty of the desired department you need admissions in.

If you want to know the Punjab Engineering College fees structure for these particular courses you can visit the college website. There you can find a detailed layout of all the expenditures including fees.

Student Life

The Student life at PEC Chandigarh is excellent. This is because of the highly inclusive and welcoming environment this institute presents to its students. This is evident by the vast number of technical and cultural societies in place for students to join and also the yearly cultural fests.

The societies help students socialize and feel less homesick when staying in hostels away from home. Another benefit of such clubs and societies is you get to learn something new which can benefit you further your career in a number of fields. The technical societies are subject specific and very close to the subject matter of what students are studying, but if you want to learn something totally different from your course you can choose from different cultural societies which include art & photography club, music club, theatre club, and much more.

The yearly PEC fest is a grand affair where students get to organize and participate in various cultural and technical activities. These include competitions, performances, and much more in both these fields. The yearly fest is headlined by a grand musical and dance performance which is performed by some of the best artists from the country. Students from colleges all around the region come to participate and see the PEC Fest.

This mix and match of academic as well as co-curricular life for students make PEC Chandigarh not only one of the top Engineering Colleges in Punjab but also all over India.

Placements

Placements are one of the major attractions for students when looking to study in PEC Chandigarh. The career development and guidance centre is a one stop for students studying here. Any kind of problems that the students face to make themselves employable is addressed by the career development and guidance centre.

The aim of this centre is to make students aware of the real world and help solve their hurdles when approaching employers for jobs. The guidance centre also works hard to help students secure the semester long industrial training so that the students can make the best of their curriculum. There also is a student’s placement committee which helps students year round.

The well rounded career development centre along with high quality education is why PEC Chandigarh has one of the greatest placement records in the country. Every student is highly employable and independent. If you want to get a better picture of what the placement data looks like for PEC you can visit their official website where you can also find various testimonials from top companies around the world. This structured placement helpdesk makes this institute one of the best engineering colleges in India.

Rankings

PEC Chandigarh is a highly sought after institution for students in India looking to study in the field of engineering and technology. This is mainly because the course curriculum and training facilities here are world class and at par with many top institutions in India. In 2022 Punjab Engineering College was ranked 87th in India by National Institute Ranking Framework.

Notable Alumni

Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh has educated and trained some of the finest minds of this country. Students graduated from here have gone ahead and achieved great success in many different fields in this country and around the world. Some of the most notable alumni from PEC Chandigarh include Kalpana Chawla (Astronaut), Sandeep Bakshi (Banker, CEO of ICICI Bank), Vijay K. Dhir (Former Dean of UCLA), Badshah (Musician), Jaspal Bhatti (Film-Maker, Comedian).