Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112255660800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

JNTU ropes in UPES experts

Staff Reporter

They will train students in petroleum and energy studies

Modalities of academic partnership being worked out, says JNTU V-C
Some UPES professors may occupy faculty positions in JNTU

Kakinada: As part of expanding its horizon, JNTU, Kakinada, has successfully roped in Dehradun-based University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) to lend its expertise in petrochemical engineering and related subjects.

UPES Director (Rajahmundry Centre) K.V. Mohan Rao expressed commitment on behalf of the UPES to teach and train students for Master of Technology, Bachelor of Technology and Master of Business Administration degrees in domain specific subjects of petroleum and energy studies to cater to the needs of oil and gas, power and transportation sectors.

Subjects

Some of the these subjects are upstream asset management, gas engineering, petroleum refinery engineering and process design, pipeline engineering, aerospace engineering, automobile engineering, avionics, process safety, plant operations and health and environment.

This formal understanding between JNTU and UPES is set to culminate in some UPES professors occupying faculty positions at the JNTU after the impending introduction of a post-graduate course in petrochemical engineering and processes.

The modalities of this academic partnership are being worked out and it will soon take the final shape, according to Vice-Chancellor of JNTU (Kakinada) Allam Appa Rao.

V-C’s vision

The tie-up is in tune with the Vice-Chancellor’s vision to fully harness the oil and natural gas reserves available in abundance in the K-G basin. It is worth mentioning here that the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation had evinced interest in sending its engineers to pursue advanced course in petrochemical engineering which the JNTU has proposed to launch.

The JNTU, Kakinada, will be able to realise its dream of meeting a large part of the oil and gas industry’s burgeoning requirement of engineers by offering the PG course.