In Pune, a Defence institute gets a civilian makeover

Pune, July 6 Winds of change are blowing at the premier DRDO establishment, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), as it opens its doors wide open to civilians and turns into a full-fledged university.

And among the first things on the cards at the Pune-based institute is nomenclature. The masters degree in Mechanical Engineering in Combat Vehicles has been renamed as Automobile Engineering, while another ME Mechanical degree course in Guided Missiles is now called Aerospace Engineering.

“We are trying to change the nomenclature of certain courses that are not linked exclusively with defence and broadbase their curriculum so that eventually civilians can avail of admission into these courses,” says DIAT’s Vice-Chancellor Prof L M Patnaik, who assumed charge in March this year. Civilians can gain admission beginning sometime in 2009.

It may take some time before full-fledged defence engineering courses such as Weapons, Air Armament, Torpedo Technology and Naval Weapons see a similar change, with an eye on potential industrial collaborations.