IOE rated 3rd best in Asia

January 5, 2001
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Kathmandu, Jan. 5: The Institute of Engineering (IOE) under Tribhuvan University (TU) has been adjudged the third best in a list 10 best Asian institutes by the Bangkok-based Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), after judging the performance of the Masters Level students in 2000.

In 1999 and 1998, the IOE had been listed as the fourth and sixth best in Asia.

“Our students are showing excellent performance both nationally and internationally. We are doing very well, especially in the Bachelors Level,” Prof. Dr. J.R. Pokhrel, Dean of the IOE, told.

According to Dr. Pokhrel, a large number of students scoring the highest marks at the AIT were products of IOE. “This has enhanceed our credibility both nationally and internationally.”

Because IOE graduates are showing such excellent results, universities in other countries are showing interest in being affiliated with the IOE. So a team of experts from the IOE is going abroad to review the physical facility, faculty and funding of the concerned institutes.

Because of its credibility, students’ pressure is increasing at the IOE.

“Many students who are studying abroad want to join the IOE. But it is very difficult to adjust them,” said Dr. Pokhrel.

The IOE claims its graduates are more qualified and efficient in their respective fields than their foreign counterparts. “There is also a greater demand for IOE graduates than those from other countries,” adds Dr. Pokhrel.

The IOE products work both inside and outside the country. “Most of them have been absorbed within the country. Until now, IOE has produced 985 civil engineers, 64 electrical engineers, 61 electronic engineers, 46 mechanical engineers and 21 in architects.

In the initial year, 24 civil engineers were produced. Today 140 students are admitted every year.

The total enrolment capacity of IOE is 480 and 840 in the Bachelors and Diploma Levels respectively.

A 20-year strategic plan has been formulated to develop IOE as a centre of excellence to produce more capable and efficient manpower.

Pokhrel credits IOE’s former Dean Prof. Dr. Uttam Narayan Shrestha for making the entrance examinations a real test. Dr. Shrestha was able to set up the norm despite the then political interference.

The institute tries to help students needy, but talented students. To accommodate more of such students, the IOE is soon negotiating with the World Bank for a Learning Innovation Loan (LIL).

Established in 1972, the IOE, which produces both technicians and engineers as per the national need, has been running Diploma, Bachelors, Masters and Post graduate level courses.

Pokhrel conceded that the three-year Diploma Level course has not been running very smoothly.

Reasons behind this include lack of commitment on the part of the students and teachers of non-engineering subjects. Due to the students’ involvement in politics and negligence on the part of the teachers of non-engineering subjects, many students fail the first year.

However, TU’s newly introduced rule is expected to compel teachers to be present in the classes regularly. As per the new rule, which has already been implemented, a regular teacher must not work with other institutes during the stipulated hours.

To meet the increasing demand for manpower, the IOE is also starting Masters’ Level classes in Renewable Energy, Geo-Technical Engineering and Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the coming academic year.

Currently, IOE has four constituent campuses across the country: Pulchowk Campus, Thapathali Campus, Eastern Engineering College, Dharan, and Western Engineering College, Pokhara. There are 5,000 students, 500 teachers and 500 employees in IOE. Five campuses are affiliated to the IOE.