A MEMOIR OF THE PLACE WE INVENTED OURSELVES
We all know that life is all about the choices we make. To make the best memories, we must choose the best place, but the question is What is the benchmark of the best? it’s certainly, the growth rate. While we are proudly celebrating the 20 years of government engineering college Kozhikode, the one thing we can be sure about this moment is the growth it achieved in this short span.
Harshid K | 2006 CH
College is one of the memorable parts of a person’s life, whether it is about friends, professors or growth in life. We all have to make so many decisions that will create in-depth influences on the career and the future of our life. It brings inevitable changes and leads our life to new turns and twists. Especially, when you choose to become an engineer, there is a high probability that if you are not getting the proper guidance at the right time, you may miss the path to your real destiny. We all know that life is all about the choices we make. To make the best memories, we must choose the best place, but the question is “What is the benchmark of the best?” It is certainly, the growth rate. While we are proudly celebrating the 20 years of Government Engineering College Kozhikode, the one thing we can be sure about this moment is the growth it achieved in this short span. This growth rate is more than remarkable, from a state of not having a single building, to five different blocks for five different departments, the process was long, but the college took its own pace to achieve the perfection. After all, it is all about creating an ambiance for academic enlightenment to address and challenge the ever-growing technological scenario. “Government Engineering College Kozhikode” had made its place in the race. A race of evolutions, competitions, expectations and assurances. This prestigious institute had its vision of establishing a hub for technological brilliance from the beginning and when we look at it after these twenty-three years, it has reached more heights than the college itself had aimed ever.
The Beginning
The college was established in the year 1999, as the fifth engineering college allowed by the state government for the technical development of students in Kerala. The institution is located in Westhill, Kozhikode, the heart of the Malabar region. At the beginning of the college, classes were started at the hostel building of the polytechnic college, Westhill. This had its setbacks; the labs were shared by the students of both institutes. This was because the authorities were in the process of finding a perfect location for the campus. Gradually they found out that the current location is the best one available and GEC Kozhikode got its first independent block in 2006, on 24th July, seven years after its inception. The college shifted to Westhill Kozhikode to its new building. The block was inaugurated by then Kerala chief minister Hon. V. S Achuthanandan. Kozhikode MLA A.Pradeepkumar presided over the function. Minister for Education M. A. Baby inaugurated the Thermal Engineering laboratory on the occasion. The Thermal Engineering lab was constructed at the cost of Rs.68.27 lakhs. The four-storey main block of the engineering college consists of 14 classrooms, a room for the principal, an office room, conference hall, cooperative store, NCC room, Physical Education room, Chemistry and Physics Laboratories, drawing halls, mess halls, lifts and toilets.
When GECKKD was started in the year 1999, there were three B-Tech programs, one each in Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering (AE &I), Chemical Engineering (Ch. E), and Mechanical Engineering (ME). Civil Engineering (CE) program was started in the year 2006 and Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) program was started in the year 2012. In addition to B-Tech programs, the college conducts M-Tech programs in Signal Processing (AE &I), Energy Systems Analysis and Design (ME), and Computer-Aided Process Design (Ch. E).
INFRASTRUCTURE
Considering the infrastructural aspects of the college, from the old block to the new building it has transformed hugely. It surely can be described as the best in its way, five different blocks for each department, which don’t quite easily separate the students and it helps the students easily acquaint with each other. Canteen, library, an international level volleyball court, gardens and sufficient vacant places for students to hang out.
Each department has its own library with reference books more than the KTU’s benchmark. Digital library with access to lots of international web journals. Two smart classes for each department, along with a completely WIFI-connected campus.
Girl’s hostel, main stage and playground shared with the polytechnic are other attractions in the infrastructure. It is to be noted that the authorities have always recognized the growing need of the students and done the necessary maintenance or undertaken new constructions in the college.
DEPARTMENTS and FACULTIES
Academic quality is the core competence of every educational institution. Without making that pillar of strength safe, whatever amenities provided by the college is a lapse. In GECKKD we are blessed with the quality of the facilitators and teachers from the beginning of the institute. Starting from the first principal Dr. E.K. Gopala Krishnan Nair we always had imminent personalities at the top. It has a strong and brilliant faculty, robust and vivid industry exposure programs, excellent internship programmes with the connection of established and research-oriented companies across Kerala, and unmatched enthusiasm to develop the taste of entrepreneurship in students. What else can we ask for the bright future of technology students.
Among the three B-Tech programs allotted to the college at the time of its launching, AE&I was very unconventional and modern at that time and yet the college had managed its standard of teaching. Even now, there are only two government engineering colleges in Kerala that offer this course. It emphasizes on electronics and instrumentation with expertise in industrial instrumentation. Highly equipped laboratory facilities and qualified faculties are the highlights of the course. In addition to this, an MTech program in AE&I with an emphasis on Signal Processing had allotted in the year 2012, and a B-tech program in Electronics and Communication was also founded. Being up to date is the main key to success in science. In that sense, GECKKD was revolutionary from the founding period itself.
Chemical Engineering Department was started along with the institute and this department has an excellent track record now. The department has a cluster of highly qualified faculties and facilities including one of the best laboratory facilities in South India in this stream. As this program is a widely acknowledged one, a M-Tech program in Computer-Aided Process Design in the same stream was sanctioned in 2011. The department has its own block and all the facilities including the department’s Library and computer labs.
Mechanical Engineering is one of the pioneer courses offered by the institute. The department have brilliant teaching faculty with most of them being Ph.D. holders (always more than 60%). Close interaction with industry updation, latest innovative technologies and research association through internship programs, projects, and intellectual exchanges is the core quality of this department. Following the successful track record of the department since 1999, M-Tech program was allowed by the KTU in 2012 in Energy Systems Analysis and Design. The department always bags higher placements. Undoubtedly the proud part of GECKKD. The department is working in the main block with a well-equipped computer lab, well maintained Mechanical Workshop, Thermal Engineering Lab, etc.
The next B-Tech program in the stream of Civil Engineering was started in 2006. It was an important addition to the glory of the college. At the beginning of the course, both mechanical and civil departments shared the space in the main block. Currently, the Civil engineering department is one of the prestigious and highly demanded streams in GECKKD. The faculty members consist of sixty percent Ph.D. holders. All the teachers are graduated or post graduated from the prestigious government institutes like NIT, IIT all over India. Apart from academics, the department actively takes part in many of the government construction projects including roads, bridges, and other public buildings. This benefits the institution and generates a good amount of revenue each year. The department have tie-ups with around ten prominent companies including VKC groups and Parisons LTD, which help students to get projects and high-quality internship programmes. Department has well-equipped laboratories for Structural Engineering, Material Testing, Computer-Aided Design, Surveying, etc. The department has a rich history of providing the best possible education and surely it is striving to continue it very responsibly.
Another proud achievement of the college in this short span is that the institute had started taking Ph.D. candidates in all the departments with postgraduate programs. Other than these courses, job-oriented courses, and special training are programmed under the Step4U scheme for the people from socially backward classes. The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) offers and organizes orientation classes for students with various academic aspirations. Also, short-term training programmes for engineering college faculties for updating their knowledge are conducted in GECKKD.
Overall, the academic excellence of the institute is undoubtedly comparable with any top-notch national institute. Other than this, the syllabus of each course offered here is reviewed and updated every four years, adding the latest technologies. It is noted that most of the postgraduate students enrolled at the NIT Kozhikode are from GECKKD. Moreover, of 100,000 aspirants taking the All-Kerala Engineering Examination, only students with good ranks succeed in making it to GECKKD, and the college is maintaining the quality of the education up to their expectations as well.
Features and Highlights
The key attraction to the GECKKD is surely the highly qualified, committed, and experienced faculty members with deep knowledge in their respective streams. Laboratories are equipped with technologically advanced pieces of equipments and workshops with up-to-date facilities. With the highest pass percentage among the colleges affiliated with Calicut University since 2003, GEC students had kept obtaining high ranks. There have been high placement records, for several years. In the current year too, many students of the college have received more than one offer letter from well-reputed companies.
Central computing facility
Apart from sufficient computing facilities in each department, the college has a central computing facility with PC workstations. The CCF is equipped with over 75 Client machines, Server Class Machines, High-Speed LANs, Cisco routers, etc. A LAN (local area network) facility that runs on Linux servers forms the backbone of the center. Students get ample opportunities to develop their knowledge in the field of information technology and skills in a UNIX-like environment and software development. A leased line connects the CCF to the internet. The center offers free internet connectivity to the students and faculty members. The center is equipped with computing environments including Unix, Sun Solaris, and Linux along with software tools like Microsoft Visual Studio, C++, C, Fortran, Pascal, Java, MATLAB, AutoCAD, Kylix VHDL, Innoveda VHDL, Nisa, and Qt Creator. The plagiarism checking software Turn it- is also available for students and faculties.
Library
GECKKD has a computerized library called the Technical Library and Documentation Centre. It subscribes to various international and national technical journals and includes a digital information system. The audio-visual section maintains CD-ROMs on engineering subjects. Projects and seminar reports of students are archived in the library. Furthermore, the library holds books for general reading, and to prepare for coveted competitive examinations like GATE, GRE and TOEFL.
Other facilities
GECKKD provides buses that transport students residing in the vicinity of Kozhikode to
the college. A cafeteria is running inside the campus. Facilities for basketball, volleyball, table tennis and badminton are available. The college shares its college cricket and football space with the Government Polytechnic. The college has a direct uplink with GSAT-3, an Indian communications satellite. It has six information technology-enabled smart classrooms with LCD projectors and laptops.
Actively working Internal Quality Assurance Cell, to ensure the academic quality of the institution, make the GECKKD one of the best engineering colleges among the existing nine government engineering colleges of Kerala.
The unparalleled and uncompromised dedication of faculties, management, and PTA is the main plus to the college. Their commitment along with the contributions of strong alumni has enriched the campus, and it is reflected in every nook and corner of the institution.
EVENTS
There are a handful of events celebrated and held in GECKKD, including technical and art fests. The main events celebrated are Lakshya, Yukthi, Malhar, etc.
• LAKSHYA
Lakshya is a national technical festival hosted by the students of GECKKD. It is a platform for engineering students to showcase their skills and knowledge. So far, it has been held five times: in 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019. The program invites projects and inventions to showcase and compete in the festival from colleges across India. The winners get a sizeable amount of prize money and recognition. More than 5000 students participated in these events. Stalls of many companies and research organizations are showcased at the events.
• YUKTHI-2021
Government Engineering College Kozhikode has successfully conducted several editions of the National Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering (NET) in the past. Yukthi 2021 – The International Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering was an attempt to further explore the avenues in technology through conducting world-class events such as paper presentations, panel discussions, webinars, etc. Yukthi 2021 provided a venue for the confluence of the latest ideas, thoughts, and innovations of talented minds all over the world. The International Conference was conducted from 23rd to 25th July 2021 using online methods and strictly following COVID-19 protocols. Yukthi 2021 also had additional tracks on special topics. The program received a huge response around the world and received more than 500 papers.
RECOGNITIONS AND FUNDING
Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP)
From 1991 to 2007, NPIU implemented three technical education Projects of the Government of India assisted by the World Bank, which helped to strengthen and upgrade the technical education System and benefited 552 polytechnics in 27 states including UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry. These three projects have been rated as “Highly Satisfactory” on Project Management and Implementation, which is the highest rating, provided by the World Bank. The success of these technical Projects has encouraged the Govt. of India to seek similar financial assistance from the World Bank for a systemic transformation of the technical education system as a whole with a special focus on overall quality improvement in engineering education. World Bank took a keen interest in the systemic transformation of India’s technical education system to make it globally competitive and showed its willingness to assist the Government of India to launch a Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) as a long term programme of 10-12 years and in 2 or 3 phases. GECKKD has been rewarded with this funding for the last few years. Which helped the growth of the infrastructure and amenities of the college. It also helped the college to give many scholarships. The contribution of TEQIP –II to the college is invaluable. It is a milestone in the development of the institute. It aids in the Purchase of equipment, helps in aiding support for faculty, staff and student support – training and development schemes, etc.
NBA ACRDITION
The B-Tech courses of AE&I, ME, CHE, CE are accredited with NBA and also ISO 9001:2015 Certified. This clearly denotes the academic quality of the education provided in the institute.
SOCIAL COMMITMENTS
Actively working NSS unit always adds a feather to the GECKKD through its socially relevant activities each year. It had achieved many recognitions and awards for its committed social activities. Our NSS unit has been selected as the best unit at the National level and our fellow student Mr. Yasir was awarded as the best NSS volunteer. Selfless acts of service by the unit resulted in many awards and recognitions from State and Central governments. Many innovative programs were started by the unit and are being carried out in all NSS units across Kerala.
Students of GECKKD have contributed to rescue operations during the Kerala flood and helped in the mass production of phenol on our campus. Our teachers have always tried to make the students aware of the social responsibilities of a person, this helps a student to develop their overall character in a positive way, rather than just being fully dedicated to their academics alone.
ALUMNI
GECK Alumni, the strong and vibrant alumni play a key role in helping their alma mater to prepare and nurture the students- the workforce of tomorrow. The Alumni Network spread over 35+ countries across the world engages their alumnus in a better way, setting a clear vision to reap the benefits of this connection.
Alumni, who have already learned the ropes, can be a major part of the future developments of the institution and the current students as well. It is imperative to engage this growing pool of alumni that spans across generations. Besides, with change being the norm and the world of business witnessing a revolution that is bringing in a new industrial era, Industry 4.0, educational institutions need to capitalize on every resource available- alumni being one of them. To adapt Einstein’s famous equation E=mc² , let’s say that engagement=meaningful x connections². This illustrates how we can prepare ourselves for a new approach to engaging with each other. An Institution relationship will end up creating a new generation of Indian students who are ready to thrive in future works.
They actively participate in every need and celebrate every achievement in college. Alumni contributed significantly to the infrastructure development of evry departments and college in general – classroom furniture, HOD room renovation, water coolers, etc. Most of the alumni are working in different government sectors. There are some names we should mention like Dr: AP James (Associate Dean (Academic), Professor) Dean of Digital University Kerala. Many alumni serve the society from many reputed positions, many of them are doing their higher studies in prestigious institutes around the globe.
GECKKD is proud and happy in even small steps to the success of our alumni.
College life is surely an emotion. Especially when you study in an engineering college, the daily life challenges you experience are entirely different. This is a memoir, about the corridors we have walked, about the memory lanes, about the place that made us invent our true selves inside.
As an alumnus, I love my college with my whole heart, but I wanted to explain the quality of technical factors along with my emotions. Leaving the time behind is indeed hard, but when you can carry so many good things with you, you never really leave a place.