PANAJI:  Stating that the National Institutes of Technology have already received accreditation for their courses, thus getting these courses international recognition, the director of National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Karnataka, Prof Sandeep Sancheti said, “However, we have not marketed our potential rightly.”

He also maintained that from next year, the NITs will have a quantum leap in terms of promoting their programmes in the foreign countries including US and UK.
The NIT, Surathkal is the mentor institution for the newly established NIT in Goa, which is temporarily set up at the Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi and will commence its classes from July 20, with three branches namely electronics and communication engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, and computer science and engineering.
Addressing a press conference in the city, Prof Sancheti said that students from foreign countries including persons of foreign origin, non resident Indians and true foreign nationals can be admitted in the NITs. “There is potential for youth from many Goans families residing in foreign countries to have quality education in the NITs at cost effective rates,” he informed, pointing out that there is a provision of freeships for these students, and efforts are being made to reduce the processing fees at the NITs from US $350 to US $100.
The three branches at the NIT, Goa will initially have 30 seats each, with half of them reserved for students from Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep. Besides 90 seats, there are 6 extra seats for foreign nationals at the NIT, Goa. There is also a provision of 50 to 60 seats towards the hostel facilities.
Expressing satisfaction over the facilities provided by the GEC, Farmagudi to the NIT, Goa, temporarily set up in its campus, the director of National Institute of Technology, Surathkal said that some sites have been identified by the Goan authorities for setting up permanent campus for the NIT, Goa and a central team would soon visit Goa to finalise one of these sites. Prof Sancheti also said that a 300-acres site is mandatory for the NIT campus, and at least two years would be required for the construction of the new NIT premises. He further said the expansion of the NIT, Goa would take place in a gradual manner, with provision of additional seats and branches.
Coming out with the information that admissions for the NIT, Goa would take place through the Central Counselling Board constituted by the ministry of human resource development for the eligible candidates of AIEEE-2010, Prof Sancheti said that for the first time counselling of Goan students will take place at the help centre set up in Goa itself.
A website www.nitgoa.ac.in has been created to provide information to the students. In addition, coordinators and deputy coordinators have been appointed from NIT, Surathkal as well as Goa.
Speaking further, Prof Sancheti said that some time later, NIT, Goa will be supporting programmes pertaining to science, management and computer applications, and not confine itself to only technical education.
Replying to a question, he said that as far as campus interviews are concerned the NITs are sailing smooth, with the placement scenario improving recently.
“Roughly 5 per cent of the NIT students would not go for campus interviews as they have a definite path before their eyes,” he concluded.
Answering another question, he said that there is more demand for circuit related branches of engineering due to the availability of jobs in the IT sector.
The director of technical education, Mr Vivek Kamat and the vice-president of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Manguirish Pai Raikar were also present at the briefing.