MRSPTU-India’s first tech university awarded with IDEA Lab; setting up BCL-AICTE IDEA Lab-VC
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in association with BCL Industry Limited, Bathinda is setting up Punjab’s first ‘The State of the Art’ IDEA Laboratory on the campus of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda.
This special IDEA (Idea development, Evaluation and Application) Lab will be known as BCL-AICTE IDEA Lab.
MRSPTU is first technical university in the country and among 50 top Institutions of the country to have been awarded the IDEA Lab with a grant of Rs. 1 Crore 11 lakhs by AICTE-BCL for setting up .
The IDEA Lab is a path breaking initiative encouraging students for application of science, technologies, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fundamentals towards enhanced hands-on experience, learning by doing and product visualisation.
It is a matter of pride for the entire Punjab and the Malwa region to have the first such lab in Punjab.
It may be mentioned here that the establishment of this special BCL-AICTE sponsored IDEA Lab will cost a total of Rs. 1 crore 11 lakhs. Out of which Rs.56 lakh is being contributed by BCL (Bathinda Chemical Limited) and Rs.55 lakh is being provided by AICTE.
Renowned Scientist Prof. Ashish Baldi, who is among top two percent scientists of the World as per a study conducted by Stanford University of USA is a man behind visualising the concept and execution of the project.
In a press release, giving detailed information about the project, MRSPTU, Dean Research and Development Prof. Ashish Baldi, chief mentor of the project along with Prof. Rajesh Gupta – chief coordinator and Prof. Manjeet Bansal – Co- coordinator of the project said that AICTE was setting up such labs in reputed Institutes across the country and now Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda will also be included in the pride list of universities .
Giving details, they said the lab will have state of art facilities in Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, Product development and prototype designing with multi-dimensional mentorship at one place.
Dr. Baldi said that the main objective of this lab was to give the opportunity to the students to Innovate and Excel in the field of Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering so that they could take their new ideas in different fields. The lab will host camps, product development, workshops, training sessions exclusively for students and faculty. Even experts from different fields across the country will interact with the students so that they can understand them from all angles.
In addition, the lab will carry out about 50 different activities, such as seminars and conferences. Apart from this about one hundred students would also be given internships every year from the platform of this IDEA Lab, while the Lab will act a Nodal Center for all the affiliated and constituent Colleges of the University.
They further said that affiliated/constituent colleges across Punjab would get benefit from this Lab. The facility will also be extended to each and every student and faculty from colleges and schools across the Northern India to execute their ideas to product.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajinder Mittal, Managing Director, BCL Industry and Kushal Mittal, Joint Managing Director said that it was a great pleasure and pride to open the first such kind of lab at its MRSPTU, Bathinda. This would be a great help for the students not only from Punjab but also to other far flung areas.
While congratulating over the big achievement, MRSPTU, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Buta Singh Sidhu and Registrar, Dr. Gurinder Pal Singh Brar thanked Prof. Anil Sahasrabuddhe, Chairman, AICTE and Dr. M.P. Poonia, Vice Chairman, AICTE thanked AICTE and BCL Management for granting this prestigious project to the university, which is a matter of pride for the State.
Expressing his joy at the achievement, Prof. Sidhu said that MRSPTU believes in the pedagogical/learning approach that focuses on Beyond Class Room Learning.
Dr. Brar said that this BCL-AICTE IDEA Lab would benefit thousands of students as well as faculty members in the area.
MRSPTU is one of the front ranking and fastest growing university of the state.
April 2,2022
