Marching from strength to strength, Delhi College of Engineering, DCE now stands in the community of Technological Universities as “Delhi Technological University”, firmly committed to foster world quality education, accelerate the pace of innovations and to promote industry relevant R&D in areas of high relevance. The historic decision to upgrade DCE into DTU has been taken by the Government of Delhi and an Act to this effect has been enacted by the Delhi Vidhan Sabha. It is as much a historic decision as it was to upgrade the Thompson College of Engineering into Roorkee University or the upgradation of the Bengal Engineering College in to Bengal University of Science and Technology or the transformation of the Guindy College of Engineering into Anna University. All these Universities have emerged as the torch bearers of academic and research excellence in Science and Engineering. Naturally DTU with its brand image of DCE and its glorious past has all the opportunity to create new horizons in the arena of technical education and research in the country and rise to the level of aworld class technological university.

The year 2009 witnessed this transformation of DCE into DTU. The long standing demand for curriculum innovation has been addressed as the top most priority by DTU for its UG and PG programs. The year 2009 also witnessed expansion of educational and research opportunities at DTU with the addition of 4 new UG programs, 6 new M. Tech programs and the addition of the MBA program in the newly established Delhi School of Management of DTU. This expansion was due and was of high value to the industry and community as the focus of expansion is on industry relevance and thrust area R&D. M. Tech programs in the areas of Nano Science and Technology, Microwave and Optical Communication, VLSI Design and Embedded Systems, Software Engineering and Information System have been carefully designed to foster synergy between science and engineering and to provide a seamless academic and research environment.

The focus of DTU is on the “panchsheel” of Technical Education of 21st Century and our effort would be to work with a strategic framework to create the vital “panchamrit” of Academia, Industry, R&D organizations, Government and the Society so that we succeed in benefitting the industry and society at large. In this effort we shall collaborate with the industry and R&D organizations and establish effective linkages and co-operations with leading universities in India and abroad.

I am happy to add that our efforts to bring industry relevance to our R&D and innovations have begun to succeed. Soon after the upgradation of DCE into DTU we have signed MoU with the world renowned Lockheed Martin for Research and Development on the Next Generation Unmanned Aircraft System for urban applications. The MoU with GEM Group of Ecole Institutions for faculty and student exchange and R&D, MoU with Indian Oil for Development of a Hybrid Vehicle, Collaboration with Tokyo Institute of Technology on Conducting Polymers andNano-Composites and, lately the MoU with Intellectual Ventures to accelerate the pace of innovations at DTU mark a sound beginning on the path of research driven industry relevant innovations.

The thrust area research at DTU is currently focusing on seven areas of high relevance to our economy these include, Biofuel and Clean Energy Technologies, Future Automobile Solutions, Nano-Scale Devices and Photonics, New and Smart Materials, Conducting Polymers and Biodegradable Polymers, Broadband over Power Lines, Info-security and Network Management and Clean Environment and Low-cost Water Technologies.Our research teams on Nano-Scale Devices and Photonics Gap Band filters, New Material Science and Technology, specially in the area of Ferro materials, Bio-degradable Polymers, Conducting Polymers and Nano-Composites, Broadband over Power Lines have produced highly noteworthy research work which has beenpublished internationally. All this reflects high, competence and caliber of the faculty and the innovative and creative genius of our intelligent student community. We can take immense pride in these achievements and resolve to continue to march on the pathways along our educational philosophy of Quality Education, Industry Relevant R&D and World Quality Innovations.

This is also the time that we consolidate our strength and move forward with firm determination to pursue the Thrust Area Research for the benefit of our nation's economy. To this end, it would be absolutely important that we bring in world class outlook and world quality in focus in our research and development goals, while at the same time ensuring industry relevance of our research output. I would like to see each department to focus on thrust area R&D and strengthen our country's R&D and scientific capabilities. Further, all HODs must constantly motivate the faculty and students to nurture academic quality, academic and research integrity. The scientific values are alsorequired to be nurtured in each Department so that we as the DTU community possess values with pride and practice with pleasure.

For quite sometime, we have been feeling that we have not made a mark in the area of IPR protection and patent registration. In order to accelerate the pace of patent registration and protection of IPR, we have recently entered into a partnership with Intellectual Ventures an internationally renowned IPR company and hope that we shallaccelerate the pace of innovations and shall witness a phenomenal rise in patenting at DTU.

Another major area in which we have a major role to play is to utilize the existing EDUSAT Studio-cum-Class Room at DTU which has been established with the formidable support from ISRO and Department of Training and Technical Education, Govt. of Delhi. This is a major facility in Technical Education in Delhi and we should resolve to use it for providing quality lectures through EDUSAT to about 50 institutions presently connected to this knowledge network. The Government of Delhi has also desired that the conferences, seminars and other intellectual activities carried out in the NCT of Delhi and in the country should also be covered by our EDUSAT team so that the same could be broadcasted through our EDUSAT network. To this end, we would be making sincere efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the EDUSAT network for faculty development and industry relevant training to our students to enhance their employability and their capabilities to work in today’s technology savvy work environment.

Our dream is to make DTU a World Class University of Science and Technology-cum-Global Knowledge Enterprise where the synergy between Science and Engineering creates the power of science in turn help in developing the might of technology in an university campus environment and thus supporting the growth of excellence in science and engineering together for the larger benefit of the mankind. The initiative of organizing entrepreneurship Summit at DTU has been well appreciated as efforts like these create techno-entrepreneurship environment in our University and motivate both the teachers and students to set up student and faculty led knowledge enterprises within the campus.

I am sure we, as the DTU fraternity, owe to our country and to the people of the world our share of contribution tothe growth of world quality, highly capable engineering and technology professionals along with a formidable support to the scientific and technological advancement.

The year 2010 should thus mark the beginning of acceleration of our efforts to shape DTU into the Science and Technology University of our dream. To this end, the plans have already been rolled out to add quality infrastructure including smart classrooms, most modern laboratories and research centres and also faculty recruitment and faculty development to meet the growing demand of quality faculty inspired by teaching and driven by research and innovations. The year 2010 shall witness a phenomenal rise in faculty strength alongside with growth of intellectual property in DTU.

We have also made three major resolves. These are:

(i) DTU to generate 1.1 MW of Solar Electric Power: We have resolved to generate atleast a 3rd of total electricity that we consume in the DTU campus. To meet this commitment we shall establish 1.1 MW Solar Power Electricity Generation in the DTU campus during 2010.

(ii) DTU to be a self-reliant campus for water resources: We have committed ourselves to a major rain water harvesting, ground water recharge and recycling of waste water so that the DTU campus becomes self-reliant for its water needs.

(iii) DTU to be a green campus practicing green code for its transportation and also a major hub for Green Energy Technology R&D: Towards this end the focus would be on solar electric vehicles, biodiesel vehicles and also on hybrid vehicles. Further, the DTU campus shall be made a “No Vehicle Zone” from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM. All new buildings will be developed using green building design concepts. This we consider a major step forward to inspire the budding engineers to commit themselves to create a green future for the mankind.

We look forward to a sizeable support from our distinguished alumni worldwide for infrastructure as well as to enrich the intellectual capital of DTU so that we succeed in taking their alma-mater to the destined heights of glory and enlightenment. We also invite the industry and R&D organizations to be partner in progress in our resolve to empower India with the “Wings of Knowledge and the Power of Innovation”.

Our commitment to make DTU a world class Technological University is unconditional and total. We shall succeed as DTU is a tech University “Inspired by Talent and Powered by Innovations”.

January 25, 2010

Prof. P. B. SHARMA
PhD (B’ham), FIE, FAeroS, FWPS, FISTE
Vice Chancellor