The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : NIT plans course in disaster management

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 02, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

NIT plans course in disaster management

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL, JAN. 1. The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal, proposes to introduce a full-fledged course on disaster management, which will cover subjects such as flood-control, earthquake, drought, water scarcity, cyclone and tsunami.

To begin with, the institute is planning to offer disaster management as elective at both graduate and post- graduate level from the ensuing academic year.

Speaking to The Hindu , the NIT Director, D.K. Tripathy, said though a full-fledged course was being offered in some universities, it would be the first to be offered by any professional institution in the country. The proposals would be submitted to the senate soon.

At presently, the NIT is offering seven graduate and 24 post-graduate courses on its campus. "We have bio-technology, environmental engineering and other courses. Soon, we will start bio-informatics and some more employment-oriented courses. They will be relevant to the industry,'' said Prof Tripathy.

Earthquake engineering

A paper on earthquake engineering is currently being taught in the civil engineering department, but a separate course is non-existent. "Particularly, in the wake of tsunami, the need for building up expertise in the country is felt. There are various Central Government agencies, which are ready to fund the course. It will enable produce experts within the country,'' he explained.

Meanwhile, the NIT has bagged a prestigious assignment from the Centre wherein it will co-sponsor global education. It will be one of the premiere institutions of India, which will help prepare curriculum and exchange its faculty with the proposed global Open University coming up in March 2005 in Mauritius.

"More such universities will come up across African continent and the NIT will play a greater role in their establishment. A team from the NIT, Warangal, will visit Mauritius soon,'' Prof. Tripathy said.

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