Department Summary
The EEE Department was formed by merging the then existing Electrical Engineering and Electronics Engineering departments in 1969-70. Before this, the degree programme in Electrical Engineering was started way back in 1946 when Birla College of Engineering was established,d and a Master’s programme leading to the degree of M.Sc. (Tech) Electronics was offered in the year 1955. The institute restructured the M.E. programmes in the year 1988-89 with the programme in Electronics & Control and a degree programme in Microelectronics. The Department has also introduced M.E. programmes in Communication Engineering, Embedded Systems, Electrical-Power Electronics, and Drives.
The Instrumentation programme was started in the year 1973 with the nomenclature of M.Sc. (Tech) Instrumentation as a two-year degree programme after the first degree. Later on in the year 1979-80, this programme was restructured as a 4-year integrated first degree programme with the same nomenclature. The nomenclature got changed in the year 1993 when it was renamed as B.E.(Hons) Instrumentation. Owing to the importance of electronics and its role in instrumentation, the degree was renamed as B.E. (Hons) Electronics and Instrumentation in the year 1998-99.
These Departments have earned a very high reputation in the country for the various degree programmes offered and have also established collaborative linkages with many institutions in the country and also with some of the universities abroad. The Government of India has also established a Technology Business Incubator Cell in the area of Microelectronics and Embedded Systems at the Institute with the active involvement of the faculty members of the Departments. The Department is striving to become a center of excellence in the field of Microelectronics, VLSI & related emerging areas by producing professionals who excel in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Management.
The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) at BITS Pilani enjoys a rich history that dates back to 1946 when the Electrical Engineering program was established under the Birla College of Engineering. The department changed in a major way in 1969-70 when the Electrical and Electronics Engineering streams were combined to create the current-day EEE Department. This merger was conceived as a strategic step to address the changing needs of the world of academia and industry. It resulted in an even more cohesive and holistic approach to engineering education. Decades later, many would argue that the department is now one of the most dynamic and intellectually challenging departments at BITS Pilani.
Presently, the EEE Department teaches an extensive number of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, capturing the diversity and interdisciplinary flavor of the subject matter. The department has programs in Electronics & Control, Microelectronics, Communication Engineering, Embedded Systems, and Electrical-Power Electronics and Drives in its academic portfolio. They are properly structured to endow the students with a solid theoretical knowledge base, supplemented by practice and contemporary technological resources. The curriculum is periodically revised to be in line with international trends in engineering so that the graduating students are suitably equipped to enter the industry, research, or higher education.
Besides academic eminence, the department also promotes an active research culture that instills innovative and impactful work among both teachers and students. Research activities are undertaken in a variety of front-line areas such as VLSI design, signal processing, power electronics, control systems, and renewable energy technologies. The department is also supported by well-facilitated laboratories and access to state-of-the-art simulation tools and software, which add value to the quality of research output. Numerous projects are funded and sponsored by national and international agencies, further solidifying the department's position as a hub for research and advanced innovation.
The EEE Department has built a firm reputation for graduating technically sound, professionally capable, and socially conscious engineers. Former students of the department occupy high positions in industry, academe, and government around the world. The department also has active industry associations that give students internships, exposure to practical engineering problems, and live project opportunities. With a blend of academic excellence, research orientation, and industry interaction, the EEE Department at BITS Pilani continues to remain committed to shaping electrical and electronics engineering leaders of the future.