Comprehensive Guide to Courses at College of Engineering Trivandrum

The College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET), situated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, stands as the state's oldest technical institution. Founded in 1939 by the Travancore monarch Chithira Thirunal, CET has a rich history and a strong reputation for academic excellence. This article provides a detailed overview of the courses offered at CET, its campus life, and other essential aspects that make it a premier engineering college in India.

A Historical Perspective

The institution owes its foundation to the vision of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sree Chitra Tirunal Balarama Varma. On July 3, 1939, the college formally came into existence, initially functioning in the former office and bungalow of the Chief Engineer. Maj. T. H. Mathewman was appointed as the first principal of the college with Vastuvidya Kushala Sri, Balakrishna Rao and Prof. D. L. Deshpande on the faculty. The college had an intake of 21 students each for the Degree courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical branches of Engineering, under the then Travancore University.

In 1960, the college was shifted to its present 101 hectare or 250 acre campus at Kulathoor, 13 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central (railway station). The Masterplan of the campus, and the magnificent main building and other structures in the campus were designed by Prof. Joseph Chandra Alexander, who was the first Chief Architect and Chief Town planner of the Govt. of Kerala. The main building resembles a spanner from the air, around which are spread the departmental buildings, library block, laboratories, workshops, hostels, a planetarium, staff quarters, canteens and stadiums. With the establishment of the Directorate of Technical Education in the late 1950s, the college administration came under the direct control of the government.

Academic Programs

CET offers a wide array of academic programs, catering to various interests and specializations within the fields of engineering, architecture, and management. The undergraduate and postgraduate courses are accredited by AICTE. Here's a breakdown of the courses available:

Undergraduate Programs (B.Tech and B.Arch)

Regular BTech admissions to this college are based on All Kerala Engineering Entrance Examination. The college offers undergraduate B.Tech and B.Arch programs.

B.Tech Programs: These programs cover a range of engineering disciplines, providing students with a strong foundation in their chosen field. The B.Tech programs include:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics & Communication Engineering
- Computer Science Engineering
B.Arch Program: This program focuses on architecture, providing students with the skills and knowledge required to design and construct buildings and other structures.

Postgraduate Programs

Besides the regular BTech, BArch, MTech, M.Plan, MBA and MCA programmes, the college also conducts Part Time BTech and MTech classes for meritorious diploma holders. It also offers part-time and full-time postgraduate programs in engineering and architecture, as well as Master of Business Administration and Master of Computer Applications. Admissions to MTech programs are based on GATE examination.

M.Tech Programs: These programs offer advanced knowledge and specialization in various engineering fields, building upon the foundation laid by the undergraduate programs.
M.Plan Program: This program focuses on urban and regional planning, equipping students with the skills to develop sustainable and efficient communities.
MBA Program: The Master of Business Administration program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of business principles and practices, preparing them for leadership roles in various industries.
MCA Program: The Master of Computer Applications program focuses on computer science and its applications, providing students with the skills to develop software and manage information systems.

Lateral Entry Scheme

There is Lateral Entry Scheme to admit diploma holders to the second year/third semester of the BTech courses to acquire a degree in engineering based on a state-level entrance examination. This scheme allows diploma holders to directly enter the second year of B.Tech programs, providing them with an opportunity to earn a degree in engineering.

Research Programs

Facilities for research work leading to Ph.D degree are available in the departments of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Architecture and Business administration. The department of Chemistry of College of Engineering Trivandrum is also an approved research centre under University of Kerala. The admission to Ph.D degree is through entrance test & interview conducted by APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University once a year. University & PhD part time for external candidates. College of Engineering, Trivandrum is also an approved Minor Centre under AICTE QIP (Quality Improvement Programme) providing opportunities to faculty members of the degree-level engineering institutions to improve their qualification by offering admissions to Master's and Ph.D. In 2018 & 2019 College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram was a nodal center for direct Ph.D admission under AICTE National Doctoral Fellowship (NDF).In 2020 AICTE rebranded NDF into a new multidisciplinary research fellowship called AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (ADF) aimed to enhance the research culture in AICTE approved Institutions. In this scheme 363 Nos. of fellowship are spread across 42 selected Universities in India. Out of this only 10 are available in Kerala, which is under APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. Out of these 10 fellowships, 3 fellowships are assigned to College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram.

Campus Life and Extracurricular Activities

CET is not just about academics; it also offers a vibrant campus life with numerous student organizations and extracurricular activities.

Student Clubs and Organizations

College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram has 36 Officially recognized student clubs ranging from technical to non technical.

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SAE INDIA CET: The student chapter of SAE- the Society of Automotive Engineers, the century-old society Thomas Alva Edison, Henry Ford and numerous other greats were members of. Students from CET have participated in SAE INDIA National competitions like the Baja and Efficycle. SAE INDIA CET regularly holds educative sessions on automotive technology- from bicycles and skateboards to trains and rockets. The student chapter also trains students in CAD.
IEEE CET: IEEE activities in CET were initiated on 15 June 1983 as student branch under the Kerala section. In 2000, it hosted the Student Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC 2000) in Technopark with many notable speakers from the Information Technology domain. It was revived in the year 2008. As of January 2012, CET IEEE Student Branch has around 100 student members. The Student Branch has a library. One affinity group called IEEE Women in Engineering is running under this Student Branch and six societies.
IET CET: The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world's leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community, with more than 160,000 members in 127 countries and offices in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. The Institution of Engineering and Technology Students chapter in College of Engineering was initiated in 2009. The IET CET has a library and an embedded systems research lab at the college. It has over 125 members in the college. The IET Chapter in the college won the Best Chapter Award under the Chennai Local Network in 2009. The chapter's activities include conducting workshops, seminars and technical competitions.
RoboCET: RoboCET is the robotics club of CET formed by a group of robotic enthusiasts among the students of the college. RoboCET was established in April 2008. The activities of this club include conducting classes, workshops and exhibitions on robotics.
IEDC: The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Cell (IEDC) is a fully functioning student body registered under the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) of the College of Engineering Trivandrum. The club provides a platform for students with ideas to convert them into business reality. The stated aim of IEDC is to foster a student start-up culture in the institution. Club activities include seminars by firms such as Blackberry, classes on the basics of the Stock Market, sponsorship activities, talks with prominent start up ventures and trips to events all over India like Hackathons and Entrepreneurship Conferences.
NSS CET: The National Service Scheme primarily stands for channelising the student youth for building the nation. The youth in all ages has been in the vanguard of progress and social change. On 18 October 2006 NSS CET (with unit no. From its humble beginnings with just a handful of students, NSS CET has grown into a vibrant and well-established organization with over two - hundred active volunteers. It is widely recognized in the state for its impactful social initiatives and consistent community outreach. It is among the top contributors to blood donations in the state, organizing regular drives and maintaining a reliable emergency donor network. The unit actively supports underprivileged patients by providing funds for dialysis and other medical needs. NSS CET also distributes free food kits, medical beds, wheelchairs, and other essential resources to those in need. In addition, it conducts regular teaching programs for underprivileged students, aiming to bridge educational disparities.
BBC CET: BBC CET is a club that was an initiative of the CET Alumni Association.
Innovation Centre: The Innovation Centre is a lab facility operated for the students by the students of CET. It was established in May 2012 and has become the den of geeks and Greeks in the college. Unlike most other technical organisations in the college, Innovation centre is government funded (by CERD). The Innovation Centre is open 24 x 7, with supervision. The facility also organises talks and training sessions in technical activities and also acts as a think tank where students meet to discuss their ideas on technical advances. In addition to it activities within the college, Innovation Centre CET hosts EUREKA, a statewide project competition annually. It is also a guidance center where students get advice and help for their projects and tech related activities.
CET Quiz Club: CET Quiz Club is one of the oldest and most active club in CET. CET QC conducts weekly informal sessions and other regular quizzing events in college. The club also organizes the inter college and open quiz competitions during Dhwani (Cultural fest) and Drishti (Tech fest), among others. One of the most awaited annual quizzing event, Eroteme, is conducted by the QC and attended by quizzers in and out of the state.
Film Club: The official film club of College of Engineering Trivandrum, which conducts student film festivals, panel discussions, film reviews, short film competitions, etc. in the college.
H2O CET: H2O CET is the official CET student wing of Helping Hands Organisation, NGO based out of Thiruvananthapuram, that focuses on autism and disability Rehabilitation along with providing holistic education to underprivileged children. With a volunteer strength of more than 100, many college level events are organized for fund raising for the NGO.
LitSoCET: LitSoCET, short for Literary Society CET facilitates the literary and debate aspirations of students. The annual literary fest, Carpe Dictum is organised as a part of Dhwani. CETALKS is the original in- house talk show of College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram. It was a talk series program that was founded in January 2015 during the 75th anniversary celebrations of the college. Cetalks is also the name of the college's official radio.
VeloCET: VeloCET is the official model rocketry club of the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram, founded on 14 August 2024.

Festivals

CET hosts several major festivals, including Dhwani (Cultural fest) and Drishti (Tech fest). These events provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents and engage in friendly competition.

Campus Facilities

The campus is well-equipped with modern facilities, including well-maintained classrooms, labs, libraries, and computer centers. The campus features impressive architecture designed by Prof.

Infrastructure and Campus Life

Extending over 80 acres of land, it has one of the most spacious campuses in the country. The main building resembles a spanner from the air, around which are spread the departmental buildings, library block, laboratories, workshops, hostels, a planetarium, staff quarters, canteens and stadiums.

Hostel Life

Getting a hostel spot can be difficult initially. Hostels feel like home.

Other facillities

CET is not just about booksâit's got major vibes. Huge green campus, techy labs, solid Wi-Fi. The campus is very active, and there are always activities. These include club events, department activities, and social time at the canteen or gazebo.

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Rankings and Reputation

The institution is consistently ranked among the top due to its legacy and strong alumni network. CET has a solid placement record, with many top companies visiting the campus for recruitment. Students have secured positions in both national and international organizations.

Alumni

CET boasts a large and influential alumni network, with graduates in leading roles in industry, academia, and government. Some notable alumni include:

S. G. D. V. R. Joy Vazhayil IAS - Chief Secretary, Govt.
M. P. G. T. G. K. S. M.
Erickavu N.

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