It is a matter of great honor and privilege for me to assume the responsibility as Director of this great seat of learning, Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology (IIEST) Shibpur, the erstwhile Bengal Engineering College Shibpur. The Institute started its journey as a small unit of Civil Engineering at the Writers' Building, Kolkata way back in 1856. The country has witnessed this Institute to grow over more than one and a half-century in the form of a full-fledged University with sixteen departments of Engineering & Technology, Science and Humanities & Social Science disciplines. Also, the Institution has eight Schools and two dedicated research Centres for imparting education and research in interdisciplinary areas. The Institute is one of the oldest Engineering Institutes of the country. It has a bank of excellent and eminent faculty members who have been instrumental in turning this Institution into one of the finest academic and research institutions of the country. This is best evidenced by the decision of the Government of India to take over the Institution as one of the centrally funded Institutes of the country directly financed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development so that this Institution with immense potential can scale new heights in future. However, the Institution had to undergo several transformations from an Engineering College under the University of Calcutta, Kolkata to a deemed University and further to a state-run University of the Government of West Bengal over a short period. These transformations have led to spiraling administrative problems that hampered the growth of the Institute to a great extent. Nevertheless, with the present status, there exists an enormous scope for the Institution to emerge as one of the premier technical institutions of the country on a par with top-runner NITs and IITs.

The Institute is located on the western bank of the river Ganges and has a picturesque lush green campus. The century-old legacy of the Institute has produced illustrious alumni who are spread all over the globe holding top-notch positions in government organizations and giant corporates. It is heartening to see the enthusiasm of the alumni to contribute to the betterment of their alma mater. One of the biggest advantages of the Institute is its proximity to a metro city. Kolkata has been recognized all over the world as the city of intellectuals. This has enriched the Institute on the academic front. Unfortunately, the Institute primarily remained as a regional Institute because of its historical genesis. With the conversion of this Institute to an Institute of National Importance our first responsibility would be to bring a cosmopolitan culture in the Institution where best faculty and students are to be pulled into to create a campus that would have a truly national character. The Institute is committed to promoting merit without any bias or prejudice to any kind of caste, creed, race, religion, or gender.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite young aspirants who intend to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in Engineering & Technology, Science, Humanities and other allied and interdisciplinary areas to join this great Institution. I am confident, you will not regret to be a part of this Institution which has been empowering the nation since independence.
Finally, I appeal to all stakeholders of the Institution to join hands to take this Institution to a higher level to make a mark in the list of top technological institutions globally.
Jai Hind!.

Prof. Parthasarathi Chakrabarti
pchakrabarti.ece@iitbhu.ac.in
director@iiests.ac.in