Date:13/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121357840200.htm

Tamil Nadu

Engineering the future

Mepco Schlenk Engineering college, Sivakasi is a leading ISO-9001:2000 certified self-financial Engineering College started on 17th October, 1984. The institution is sponsored by the Mepco Schlenk Charities, a social welfare organisation of the Metal Powder Company Limited, Thirumangalam which has won many National awards for the outstanding performance in the fields of export promotion and R & D. The Board of Directors of the MEPCO are dynamic personalities with far sighted vision and wisdom, experienced in running several successful industries and are highly philanthropic in running educational institutions from primary schools to institution of higher learning including engineering and technology both for men and women. Mepco Schlenk Engineering College is approved and accredited by the All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi and affiliated to Anna University, Tirunelveli. The Institution of Engineers (India) with the head office at Kolkata, has accorded recognition to all the Engineering branches of our college. Sri. Yennarkay R. Ravindran is the President, Sri A. Vairaprakasam is the Correspondent and Dr. S. Balakrishnan is the Principal of the college.

Courses offered are Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering in Civil, Electrical & Electronic, Electronics & Communication, Computer Science and Engineering and MechanicalEngineering. B.Tech courses are offered in Infomation Technology and Biotechnology. The post graduation degree courses are available in fields like, Structural Engineering, Power Electronics and Drives, Communication Systems, Computer Science and Engineering, CAD / CAM and in Industrial Safety Engineering. Further, M.Tech course is available in Nano Science and Technology. Other courses offered by the college are, M.B.A., M.C.A., and M.S. By research in Civil, Mechanical and Physics. Ph. D courses are available in Civil and Mechanical Engineering and Physics.

Top priority is given to Research and Development activity and the faculty is encouraged with all the facilities required for a deeper study in different branches of science and engineering. Due to this encouragement, 46 research projects have been obtained by various Departments through different government organizations such as DST, CSIR, AICTE, DRDO, ISRO, BRNS, etc., The total amount sanctioned for the projects is more than Rs. 5 crores. Industries are also sponsoring some of the projects

This private academic and research institution has taken a lead role in the process of Nanotechnology development. The college has already invested a sum of Rs.1.5 crores in establishing state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities at Nano Science & Technology Research Center (NSTRC). In addition, it has already garnished Rs 1.29 crores for the development of production technology to manufacture Nanoparticles. Steps have already been taken to do collaborative research work and for signing MoUs with leading overseas universities. The college has signed MoU with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Life sciences group of Laboratories.

Nearly 80,000 sq.mts of architectured and landscaped buildings housing various departments and hostels built on a sprawling 165 acre land makes it an oasis amongst the desert. The environment of the campus looks attractive with lush green lawns, thousands of flower plants and trees. There are five hostels for gents and three hostels for ladies accommodating nearly 2500 students.

The college has well qualified, devoted, motivated and dedicated team of teaching staff which includes 40 Ph.D. holders and with 43 more pursuing research are in different stages of completion. This has resulted in the college recording high academic performances due to the percolation of research ideas seeded to the student community.Enviable facilities have been provided at a cost of over Rs. one crore to engage students and staff in outdoor and indoor games. There is a 400m track with eight lanes. A sports pavilion and gallery has been constructed to accommodate 1,000 spectators. The flood lit indoor stadium is fully equipped with modern, body building equipment.

A branch post office, STD/ISD/fax communication centre, an extension counter of the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd. with ATM, a health centre with a residential doctor and other supporting staff, mineral water plant, waste water treatment plant, open air auditorium, dish antenna for satellite television channels, fully air-conditioned seminar halls in every building, guest house and air-conditioned reading hall in the library cater to the needs of the staff and students. Few hostels have been provided with Wi-Fi networking facility, which enables students to browse internet, thereby imparts updated knowledge enhancement during their free time in their rooms.

Awards & Achievements

* Out of 242 Engineering Colleges affiliated to the Anna University, Chennai in the State, our College has got the FIRST rank in the University Examinations during Apr-May 2008 (Statistics of Percentage of Pass).

* Rated 16th position at National level among private Engineering Colleges by Outlook Survey, June 2008. (In 2007, we got 25th position).

* Rated 42nd rank among all technical institutions in India including IITs and NITs. by DataQuest Survey (Ref. June 15, ’07 edition of DataQuest).

* The College has obtained ISO 9001:2000 Certification from M/s.DNV, Netherlands in the area of "Educational Services for UG and PG courses in Engineering and Management".

* Dr. S. Balakrishnan, Principal, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, has been awarded with the coveted International Award of Best Outstanding IEEE Student Branch Counselor by the Institution of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Inc (New York) (IEEE) for the year 2005 in the Asia Pacific region. The region comprises of Australia, China, Japan, Indonasia, Singapore, Malasia, Thailand, Korea, Pakistan, Bangalore, India, Ceylon etc. This award is one among the 5 awards given world wide. The award was given to him at a function held during last month at Beijing, China at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications by the Vice President, IEEE, New York.

* Our College stands FIRST among all Colleges under Anna University in securing more number of university ranks (18 in UG & 12 in PG) in the year 2006-07.

* 46 Sponsored Research projects costs Rs.5 crores from AICTE, CSIR, ARDB, DST, IGCAR BRNS, ISRO, TIFAC, DRDL undertaken by our faculty members