Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is ranked third among all the NITs for its excellence in education by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Ministry of Education (Shiksha Mantralaya), Government of India. The architecture department offers bachelor in architecture and postgraduate courses in urban planning and development. It is a college that has decades of legacy behind it and several notable alumni that form a supporting group initiating many developments in and around the college campus.
Many of their architecture department faculties are themselves alumni’s, and hence there is a close bond that is shared among the teaching staff and students. Established in 1947 by the Madhya Pradesh government, it later became VRCE and the present-day NIT as we know it.
An array of Cultural Experiences | Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology
The college hosts a lot of cultural and department events that even go up to a week. They have a cultural fest called ‘Arohi’ that is one of the biggest cultural events in central India with week-long events and competitions for everyone and live concerts and performances by celebrities. It is surely one of those special events that capture the campus at its finest.
Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology also hosts a techno-fest called ‘Axis’ that has a lineup of seminars and competitions that allow students to grow career-wise. It is sponsored by many notable companies and helps students take their entrepreneur ambitions to the next level. There are many performing arts clubs like Halla Bol, Alaipayuthe, 911, Octaves and several other clubs like Club Capture, Iridescence and others from which students can choose to join to enrich their time spent in college.
A Second Home
It is a welcoming atmosphere filled with lush greenery all around the campus—a huge campus with people coming in every morning for their morning walks. College is situated near the town; therefore, we have good access to explore the city of Nagpur. Overall, the campus life is excellent, with a lot of activities happening year-round, keeping students occupied during their time here.
Courses Offered
At Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, students are offered:
Bachelor of Architecture
Duration: 5 years
Seats: 62
Total Fees: ₹ 6.85 L
Department has huge classrooms of both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned, and the furniture in the studio is quite uncomfortable. There is a room dedicated to the carpentry workshop, and a huge library is available for the students to access their study material.
M.Tech. in Urban Planning
Duration: 2 years
Seats: 25
Total Fees: ₹ 1.74 L
Eligibility: Candidate must have passed Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline with minimum of 60% marks for GEN/GEN-EWS/OBC or at least 6.5 CGPA and 55% marks in case of SC/ST/PwD candidates or 6.0 CGPA from a recognized university/Institute.
Years of Experience
The faculty at the department of architecture in Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology is a group of experienced individuals who have several years of experience in the field, both working in the sector and teaching. The curriculum is such that in the five years of the course, students are involved in all the separate niches of architecture from interior to landscaping. Several subjects are also given as electives in the third and fourth year, providing students with an option to study according to their interests in the field.
A semester is usually six months followed by a month of vacation during which students can take up internships and seek other opportunities to widen their perspective. During the semester, students are enriched with workshops, seminars and field trips that broaden their understanding of architecture, creating a conducive environment for overall development.
The professors also have a close bond with the students; having been in our shoes studying on the same campus, they have a lot of nostalgia about the years they spent pursuing this course and often reminisced about their experiences here. Hence, they are very open and vocal with the students as and when necessary, advising us and being a mentor to us during our college years.
Many of the college customs and traditions are followed just as they used to be done years back, and the staff members are equally enthusiastic about these events year-round. All in all, it feels like a close-knit family by the end of the five years.
Changing to the Current Times | Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology
The campus has been renovated as some of the buildings have stood for quite some time without much of a change. However, to cater to the current infrastructural needs, the multipurpose hall has been renovated, and several new blocks have popped up in different parts of the campus blending with the unique style of its predecessors. Even the main entrance has received a landscaping uplift creating a mesmerizing play of lights and fountains at night.
The campus, even though ever-growing, keeps its essence of privacy and greenery covering every square inch of the campus, creating a relaxing and comfortable space for the students. The new hostel facilities are green buildings with a Wi-Fi connection, gym and other amenities for a comfortable student life during campus years.
References:
- “Department of Architecture & Planning Engineering – South Ambazari Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra. Pin 440010 (India).” Department of Architecture and Planning, visit.ac.in/arch/. Accessed at: 11 July 2021.
