Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology

History

Before the independence of Bangladesh, the then Government of Pakistan, to meet the increasing demand of professional engineers for the national development, established Rajshahi Engineering College in 1964 as a faculty of engineering under the University of Rajshahi. It was the second engineering college established in the then East Pakistan (The first one was Ahsanullah Engineering College: now BUET).

Rajshahi Engineering College ( was commonly known as REC) started its journey with only three departments: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Civil Engineering, offering bachelor's degree programs only. It accepted its first class of 120 students in the academic session of 1964/65 and the second class of like number in the academic session of 1965/66. The teaching faculty consisted of 19 faculty members at that time.

After the independence of Bangladesh (1971), the administration of the college was controlled by the Ministry of Education of Bangladesh and academic curriculum was controlled by University of Rajshahi. However, the infrastructural development and maintenance was taken care of by the Public Works Department of Government of Bangladesh. To remove these kinds of aforesaid problems several committees and commissions were formed since 1973. On the recommendation of these committees and commissions, in 1986, Rajshahi Engineering College was converted to an institute and was named Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT), Rajshahi to enhance the technical education.

In September, 2003, the institute was upgraded to a university and was named as Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET) to enhance the technical education and research. From that time, the university is financed by the Government through the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh. The university is an autonomous statutory organization of the Government of Bangladesh functioning within the "Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology: Act 2003".

Campus

RUET is situated in the northern part of Bangladesh, in the city of Rajshahi— the educational center of North Bengal. The campus of RUET presents a spectacular harmony of architecture and natural beauty.

The distinguishable seasons in Bangladesh are summer and winter. In summer season (May–October) temperature of Rajshahi is hot and typically 25-40 degree Celsius and sometimes humid. In winter season (November–April) temperature is moderate typically 8-20 degree Celsius.

Faculties and departments

RUET has currently eighteen departments under four faculties. The university has taken to plan open more departments which was under process.

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

Ranking

According to ResearchHUB, considering overall score, RUET is ranked 8th among all of the Bangladeshi Universities and 7th among all of the Bangladeshi Public Universities in 2016. ResearchHUB also placed RUET 8th among all of the Bangladeshi Universities based on research performance.

Research projects

RUET won a total of three projects (excluding BdREN project) for improving postgraduate research facilities and producing quality postgraduates from the "Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP)" funded by the World Bank and the Government of Bangladesh during the period of 2014 – 2017. Lists of ongoing research project are as follows:

1. Improvement of research capabilities of Mechanical Engineering Department of RUET for producing quality postgraduates and enhancing research outreach.
2. Improving research facilities in Mechanical Engineering Department of RUET for post-graduate studies.
3. Development of teaching learning facilities for undergraduate & graduate program in Mechanical Engineering Department of RUET

Research institutes

RUET has currently following research institutes:

1. Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT)
2. Institute of Energy and Environmental Studies (IEES)

RUET has already taken plan to open more research institutes to enhance the technical education and research activities.

Research and extension unit

The research and outreach program of RUET is conducted by the research and extension unit. The main responsibilities of this unit is management of research, innovation, research publications, research planning, implementation, research related activities and research related communication with public and private sectors in nation and international level.

International collaboration

RUET has collaborative agreements with foreign institute and will extend further to enhance the research work, technical knowledge and skills. The collaborative areas covered are joint research activities, joint hosting of seminars, conferences and symposia, exchange of students (both UG and PG), exchange of faculty members, exchange of academic materials, publications and information etc. At present, the collaboration of RUET exists with the following ones.

1. Kitami Institute of Technology (KIT)
2. University of the Ryukyus
3. Saitama University

International conferences

For the last few years, RUET has been organizing national and international conferences in its campus to enhance the research capabilities of its students and faculties. Among the conferences organized by RUET, the following ones are notable.

Admission

Getting into the major engineering universities (BUET, RUET, KUET, CUET) of the country appears to be the toughest public university admission test battle to the aspiring candidates. Like other public engineering universities, RUET has a very selective approach when it comes to admitting a certain number of students into various disciplines of engineering each year.

Undergraduate

The undergraduate admissions process begins after all education boards of the country declare the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations. After initial assortment according to HSC result, a certain number of eligible candidates are shortlisted for an elaborate written test. Usually application for admission start from September of each year, and an admission test is usually held in October or November as per decision of the admission committee. A total of 875 students were admitted in 2016.

Post-graduate

Admission notices for the post-graduate program usually circulate twice a year, in April and October. The notice is advertised on the university website. The list of valid candidates is published on the university website upon completion of the preliminary process and call for viva.

Laboratories

Most of the newly established departments of the RUET don't have enough laboratory facilities. But the older ones have enough laboratory facilities not only for academic research but also for consultancy services. RUET is taking steps for establishing laboratory facilities for the newly established departments and for enhancing laboratory facilities for the older ones.

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

Department of Urban & Regional Planning

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Glass and Ceramic Engineering

Faculty Of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering

Other laboratories

Further Development

In February, 2017, Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 3.40 million Taka to implement a mega project for the RUET, aiming to well decorate and development the whole campus and its education and research. The ECNEC approved the project in the name of "Further Development Project of RUET".

Accommodation

Student dormitories (called halls) are important features in campus life. There are seven residential halls. One of them, namely Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall, is for female students and the remaining ones are for male students. The administrative head of a hall is its provost, usually chosen from the more senior teachers. The halls are mostly named after national heroes and leaders. These are listed below with their capacities:

Organizations and clubs

Students of RUET are involved in different organizations and clubs of the university. Members of these organizations and clubs organize different national programs at RUET. They also participate in different national and international competitions and shows indomitable performances. Some of the leading organizations and clubs of RUET are mentioned here.

Others

The athletic club of the university provides multi-purpose sports facilities to the students to acquire physical fitness indispensable for a healthy mind and body. The university maintains a beautiful playground for football, cricket, badminton, volleyball, long tennis, basketball, etc. Indoor facilities are also available in the physical education building close to the playground.

RUET has a library, a central computer center, an auditorium, a canteen, a cafeteria, a medical center, a postal service and a banking service. RUET also has its own regular bus service almost everywhere in the Rajshahi city for the convenience of student transportation. Students these are residing in the city outside the campus can take this transport service to reached the campus due time.

Awards

Education cost

Yearly academic cost is $40 (2800 Taka) (approx) in all departments. Admission cost is $190 (16,000 Taka) (approx) including academic cost (admission, session, registration and student fees), medical costs, library, sports, convocation (2500 Taka) and others expenditure and for one time in four years bachelor's degree.