Charging Ahead

The Birla brand (BITS-Pilani at #9 and BIT-Ranchi at #17) rules the roost

when it comes to the private players with Thapar Institute of Engineering &

Technology at #20 being the only other private institute to make it to the top

20. The BITS clan has always been a reckoning force in the space of technology

education and for TIET, it is the second time in the top ranks. However, an

interesting outcome of the study is that despite high quality of infrastructure,

academic environment and satisfactory levels of industry interface, the BIT

brand falters on placements.

BITS-Pilani



BITS-Pilani stands out quite effortlessly from the brand equity point of

view. While the number of recruiters turning up for campus recruitments have

gone up to 80 from 66 last year, the average size of pay-packets have also

climbed by 9% to Rs 3 lakh. The highest offer received was that of Rs 18 lakh

per annum from Schlumberger. Nearly 53% of the recruiters were from the IT

industry. From the individual standpoint, BITS has improved dramatically on

placements this year, but the performance in relation to other participants

which have also ramped up significantly on placements, leaves more to be

desired. However, BITS Pilani performs well on critical parameters like

infrastructure, academic environment and industry interface. To promote an

environment of research, BITS has established several research centers. There is

iSERC (Software Engineering Research Center (India)), the Centre for Excellence

in IBM Visual Age for Java and IBM DB2 UDB; Centre for Robotics and Intelligent

System; Centre for Software Development; Embedded Controller Application Centre

and Technology Innovation Centre, among others. The objective is to collaborate

more with the industry and convert knowledge into practice.

How They Compare

Considering that present day information technologies can allow a rich

interactive learning experience that may surpass the interactivity of a

traditional classroom, the BITS model of off-campus education emphasizes on

acquisition of knowledge and skills through mediated information and deploys

synchronous instruction through Internet based desktop video conferencing as

well as asynchronous instruction through on-demand lectures. BITS-Pilani has

also spread its wings beyond the shores of India with its Dubai campus.

BIT-Mesra



This institute can be referred to as the lesser sibling of BITS-Pilani

especially from the brand standpoint. Though if one does an apple-to-apple

comparison there is no significant difference between the two. In fact, BIT-Ranchi

performs better on placements and beats BITS-Pilani on the overall institute

scorecard. BIT-Ranchi's biggest challenge today is brand equity. On

recruiter's perception, BIT-Ranchi is still miles away from BITS-Pilani.  

Better known as BITS-Mesra, where it is actually located, the institute was

established in 1955. Currently, the institute along with its extension centers

has more than 2,572 students enrolled for different undergraduate and

postgraduate programs. It also has more than 150 registered students for the PhD

programs. Industry interface is an ongoing process at BIT-Mesra. It has MoUs

with leading organizations like L&T, TCS and Infosys. There is an

arrangement with the Small Industries Development Bank of India for

establishment of a mechanism for wholesome technology development through

setting up a Technology Incubation Centre. However, average number of

assignments submitted this year remains low.   

TIET



Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology falls sharply this year but

manages to stay put within the top 20.  TIET

had 91 recruiters till May and there were 193 single offers made and 223

multiple offers. Total offers received till May were 662, and 416 students have

received placements according to latest reports. Adobe made the highest offer of

Rs 6.35 lakh per annum.

However, TIET is yet to attain the 100% mark when it comes to placements.

Although TIET stays in the top 20, it slides badly from its ninth position last

year. TIET's vision statement reads, 'To produce world class professionals

who have learnt their skills in an environment of highly competent, research

oriented and skilled faculty with state-of-the-art infrastructure'.