HBTU Kanpur gears up for major expansion with new MTech, pharmacy, design courses: VC

KANPUR: Converted into a state university in 2016 from a government technical institute, Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has built its legacy over a century. During an interview with Careers360, vice-chancellor Samsher – at the helm since 2021 – talks about going beyond engineering, new courses launched and planned, assigning credits for extracurricular activities and discipline, placements, the effort to improve research and more. Edited Excerpts:

What new courses or departments has HBTU planned or launched recently?

When I joined the institution in 2021, it was the centenary year and there were already a few branches available. In the same year, we started an MBA programme because the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 says that a university should be multidisciplinary in nature. Then we also started the MSc programmes because this is primarily a technical education institute. In 2022, we started BBA. We wanted to provide courses for non-technical students.

In 2024-25, we started BPharma. Last year we also started BTech in biotechnology and the beauty of this programme is that it is open for both maths and biology streams. Generally, in technical education, this is open only for mathematics. But we made this available to biology students and if they are not able to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) then they can come here. For this, we also started a bridge course to fill the gap.

The same year, we also introduced an undergraduate integrated course – BSc-MSc with specialisation in data science. The course is doing really well. We also started a BTech for working professionals, including the diploma engineers working in Kanpur or nearby areas. We started with electrical only. This was an experiment for us.

We also introduced the MTech in Energy and Environment in 2024-25.

Next year we are going to introduce MTech in Biotechnology, in Signal Processing and Machine Learning. Another programme we are planning to launch is MSc in Microbiology.

Within two to three years, we plan to launch a School of Pharmaceutical Science. We have sent the proposal to the government for funds and approval. We also plan to introduce design courses in the next few years.

Also, we plan to forge collaborations with other institutes in the vicinity, such as Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJM), agriculture and medical colleges and others.

Have you revised your curriculum recently?

Each department has an academic committee called the Board of Studies. The members are the faculty of the department, outside experts and industry representatives. The board observes the need of the hour and the new trends and proposes the subjects. Then, it is taken to the academic council, followed by approval of the Board of Governors.

Recently, we got some proposals for MSc in Biotechnology which the AC has approved for the coming academic year.

Further, elements of NEP were introduced in technical education long ago. We offered electric subjects from the beginning.

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Have the BTech minor degrees helped bring more students to HBTU Kanpur?

We started the minor specialisations from August 2022. Sometimes students don't get their desired rank and eventually take admission on whatever merit they receive. In these cases, minor specialisation helps. So this scheme promotes students to pursue other specialisations they want.

We don't have any vacant seats in BTech or MTech. However, many private engineering institutions have closed and many government diploma colleges are not able to fill their seats. Further, the quality of students coming to engineering has deteriorated. People's preference towards engineering has decreased.

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The HBTU received an A+ grade from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2023. What are your plans to improve?

This was the first cycle of the NAAC. We became eligible for accreditation in 2023. Accreditation is done mainly on two or three parameters, such as teaching-learning and research, graduate outcomes and perception.

When I joined here, the number of faculty was low. We recruited 65-70 new members in the last three years. So now, this research component is improving. This includes papers, patents, and then the commercialisation of the patent. We are putting a lot of effort in all these aspects.

We are paying a fellowship of Rs. 15,000 per month to attract PhD students. We have also started a Research Excellence Award for faculty. Now the results are coming up gradually. I think with this effort, the ranking will improve.

The new teachers include many with excellent research credentials and with foreign degrees. We have quite a good number of projects already.

Now that we have become a university, we have the autonomy to make decisions for ourselves, other than the funding.

Any recent partnerships?

We have signed over 50 agreements with different institutions and industries in the last five-six years, including foreign universities. We are also sending faculty to other universities.

The agreements cover research, student exchange and faculty exchange. Foreign universities include University of Saskatchewan, Canada and University of Seoul, South Korea. Recently, we signed an MoU with Nordische Energy Systems, Bangalore.

What are you doing to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship?

When I joined in 2021, we had just started an independent body for startups and innovation as a Section 8 company. We have given separate buildings, separate CEO and infrastructure as well. At the same time, we also earmarked Rs 60 lakh for incubation of the startups. Around 23 startups are already there. We have also applied for the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy.

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How have the HBTU Kanpur placements been this year (2024-25), in comparison to last year?

In 2023-24, the highest number of companies visited HBTU and 642 students were placed. Previously, 484 students were placed. In the current batch, around 475 students have been placed. The average package range is between Rs 6.4 lakh and Rs 17-18 lakh. Many students also choose family business, entrepreneurship, higher education and other opportunities over placements.

How do you look at BTech courses in regional languages? Will HBTU offer one?

Though AICTE and the UP government are pushing for BTech in regional languages, engineering is very difficult to translate. It has terminology that’s easier to learn and remember in English rather than in Hindi.

Technical education in regional languages is a challenge. It is also contradictory because there is also a push towards internationalisation of the universities as a mandate of the NEP 2020.

Earlier, HBTU was only for state students. Now, we have opened 5% for other state students and 5% for international students. We now have students from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and West Bengal. Teaching in Hindi may not be feasible for all.

Even when they go for an internship, studying BTech in a regional language could be an issue.

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Last month there was a protest on campus over attendance – some students were stopped from appearing in the exams. Plus, credits were assigned to even discipline. Help us understand this.

It is a very serious issue. It is not only in our university but in many places. We have consulted faculty members of other institutions. After COVID, it's difficult to get students to the class. Physical presence is very low. It is really alarming. There’s much research showing that classroom teaching and learning cannot be replicated by online learning. Last year, we realised that the students are having a hard time coming to the class. Hence, we made a strict rule of 75% attendance.

Despite allowing students with lower attendance in the December semester, we didn't see any improvement. Hence, we stopped students with low attendance from sitting for the exams in February. Though, we received pressure from public representatives, then the bureaucracy, and other places. We convinced them this action is necessary for students to seriously come to the class.

The continuous assessment examination is for 15 marks. Once students lose some marks, they realise the value of attendance. The message has gone that they must come to the class.

To solve this problem, we have introduced credits for extra curricular activities like sports, drama, literary competitions, conferences, which are calculated out of 100. We had it before 2016. We saw many students roaming around on campus and not attending classes. We will be implementing it from the 2025-26 session as the academic council has already passed it.

Along with this, 20 marks are for discipline. If you cross the line, you will be demoted and the student won't be allowed to sit for the final exam. Our motive is not only to make them engineers but also good human beings.

What are your sources of funding and is it sufficient?

We are primarily funded by the state government where the salary component comes from the government’s share and the rest of the operating expenditure you have to earn from consultancy, fees or other things. The government is also funding some new buildings and infrastructure. But the share is not very high. We earn some interest on corpus funds and also get rent from bodies like Kanpur Metro for lands given on lease.

We have alumni support. One alumnus is building a centre of excellence in paint technology, bearing all the costs, and another, a centre of excellence in food technology.

Converted into a state university in 2016 from a government technical institute, HBTU in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh has built a legacy over a century. (Image Source: Sheena Sachdeva)

FAQs

Is HBTU government or private?

Harcourt Butler Technical University Kanpur is a state government institution in Uttar Pradesh.

Why are HBTU Kanpur fees so high?

As per the last admission prospectus, HBTU Kanpur fees for the first year is Rs 1.35 lakh. The high fees of technical programmes at state public universities is largely due to shrinkage in government funding.

What is the highest package at Harcourt Butler Technical University?

As per data submitted to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for ranking of engineering colleges, HBTU Kanpur has a median salary of Rs 6.5 lakh which has remained at that level for three years. The highest package, according to the VC, tends to be around Rs 17-18 lakh per annum.

Is HBTU Kanpur tier 1?

Despite its decades-long legacy, HBTU Kanpur is not considered among the top engineering colleges in the country. It has participated in the NIRF rankings since 2019 – in the “engineering” category in four rounds and “overall” in two, including the last year. But it wasn’t ranked by NIRF in 2024. However, Careers360, which rates engineering colleges, has assigned it a ‘AAAA’ rating, meaning “excellent”.