The best department

Nothing is perfect in the whole universe. There were loopholes in the college administration and there were a few, not-so-good guys, who did mistreat with students but thanks to the higher authorities, those were never a permanent issue.

Experienced faculty, efficient communication skills. Laboratories well equipped with advanced instruments. The curriculum was well groomed and distributed evenly to make me well acquainted with theoretical concepts and industrial and real world laboratory practices. Personality development sessions made me interview ready. I got the opportunity to visit Biocon and other pharmaceutical company campuses on industrial visits during my final year, and even my industrial training was arranged through college only. Specifically, the laboratory techniques brought in me a lot of confidence. The exam structure was effective and it is at par with the structure followed by the leading education institutes ( IITs). We had a huge library in our campus, with books and materials providing almost everything we needed.

TPO in our Institute is quite active. Even though Biotechnology in India didn't had much job opportunities back then, around 40% students in our batch were placed before final exams. Also as I mentioned, industrial visits to certain pharmaceutical company campuses and CROs were organised. Also industrial training, internship opportunities were arranged for - not officially through college, but we always got active support of our faculties and college administration regarding these.

Introduction and Freshers Welcome, Annual Fest, Intra college football, cricket tournaments, Inter college debate, quiz, dance and cultural contests. Symposiums- Inter college and national level. Several institutions from our state and from all over the country used to participate.

Haldia Institute of Technology was an government aided engineering college, so the program fee was lower than other non government engineering colleges, and it was affordable too. The program fee, hostel fees and other fees had to be paid in the beginning of each semester. No additional fees were required or requested at the time of admission, to secure my seat or any sort of advantage. However, there was an accidental damage amount that I was charged during the course. The fee breakdown structure was transparent.2

The college did offer for scholarships, tuition fee waivers, based on semester results and (10+2) exam results and other tests. I did not opt for scholarship.

Gender ratio varied from department to department. In our department it was almost 1:1. Overall, it may be 3:1 ( m:f). Dorm parties did not prevail, separate hostels for boys and girls, and one is not allowed in the other's hostel. But the tolerance and respect level was high. Cultural and technology fests gave an opportunity to work together. Religious and ethnicity based issues were not there and was never tolerated. Campus life was good, healthy, cultural and safe. No public practice of politics was allowed in college. There were students from different economic levels, but no one was given extra facilities based on economic status. Our Institute has won many inter college cultural and music competitions.

Yes I stayed in the College hostel for the first two years. The first year hostels were temporary hostels with minimum facilities and security. PG and personal rooms were available outside the college campus which were also affordable. Transport issues were there, as Haldia was not very developed back then. Monthly hostel charges, including mess charges ( food) was around 4000/- per month. Outside the campus, the facilities were better, food and living both. Average expenses would be around 4500-4800/- per month.

Alumni and senior students seemed to be very fearful during the initial days, but within a few months, seniors were the biggest help for students. Alumni of this Institute is pretty active and very helpful. We even got helped in our careers ahead of our college by ex students, i.e, our seniors.

Haldia Institute of Technology was one of oldest and leading engineering colleges in West Bengal, which offered B.Tech course in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Reputed faculties and nice infrastructure, we learned from alumni students. After preregistration through WBJEE board, I had to go to the college and get my admission done there. Also visited the SBLS (School of Biotechnology & Life Sciences) department and introduced personally with the department faculties.

Around 30-35 lectures per semester per subject. There were total 20 -22 lecturers, 4-5 laboratory assistants, and a few more helpers. All the faculties were experienced, most of them Ph. D. Lab. assistants were post graduates with significant experience. The professors helped a lot in cultivation of the scientific attitude in me. Theory classes were interesting and challenging, and laboratory sessions were really compelling. I would mention that the one person who changed my career is our HOD. He helped me personally a lot to overcome few obstacles and he turned me into a biotechnologist.