In yet another breakthrough in the efforts of Central Government to streamline entrance examinations, country’s premier technical training institutions, National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) have agreed to conduct single national level entrance examination for admissions from 2013-14. If implemented as per the proposed changes, admission to Under Graduate Engineering Programmes (BE or B.Tech) and Science Courses will be held through a national level entrance examination.

The proposal has been accepted by the directors of these premier technical institutes in a meeting chaired by Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. Another proposal to have a council for the IIITs was also accepted by the team of directors. The council to be set up in the lines of IITs and NITs will help to plan research activity, academic and other issued in a focused manner. The single entrance examination will be conducted as per the recommendations of T Ramasami Committee report. The Ramasami Committee report has already been accepted by Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs).

The most important recommendation of the report is a mix of school and national level entrance test performance for entry to undergraduate courses. This will certainly reduce the multiplicity of entrance tests and students can also avoid over-dependency on coaching institutes. The Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) will have to take a final decision on these changes before the single national entrance came into force from 2013-14 academic session. IIITs are known for their quality of teaching, laboratories, placements and good infrastructure. This will be a good step by the Central Government towards reducing entrance exams burden on the students.

Anna University of Technology (Academic Campus, Jothipuram), Coimbatore has announced notification for admission to part time engineering programmes for the year 2011-12. Part Time B.E. is offered in the disciplines of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering and Electronics and Communication Engineering. All these programmes will be conducted in University premises under part time mode only. Following are details of eligibility and application procedure:

Qualification: Applicants should have passed the Diploma examination in Engineering / Technology in the relevant branch offered by State Board of Technical Education, Tamil Nadu . They should have secured the diploma at least two years before the last date prescribed for submission of application. Candidates should be working within a distance of 90 km from the University as the classes will start at 6.00 pm regularly. Candidates from other specializations of Diploma also can apply if the specialization is recognized as equivalent to the respective field of study. Anna University is also offering MBA, MCA and M.Sc. (IT) programmes in distance mode for which notification has been issued recently.

Selection Procedure for BE Part Time Courses: Candidates will be selected based on marks in qualifying examination and marks for work experience. Weightage for qualifying examination is 75 percent and work experience will be given 25 percent weightage. Total fee payable in the first semester is Rs. 21500 which includes one time admission fee of Rs. 4000 and refundable deposit of Rs. 5000. Fee payable for every semester is Rs. 12500.

Interested candidates can apply online through website www.autcbe.ac.in. Those applying for more than one department should submit separate applications. Detailed instructions for filling online applications is given on the website www.autcbe.ac.in . Filled in applications should be submitted online only. If any seats are left vacant, they will be filled with general category. Duration of the programme is 3 1/2 years and comprises of 7 semesters. Classes will be held from 6 PM to 9 PM on all working days making it convenient for working professionals. Last date for the receipt of completed applications is 9th December 2011.