University Department Of Chemical Technology, Bombay, Maharashtra

The Mumbai University Institute of Chemical Technology, known earlier as UDCT is the most outstanding Institute of the University of Mumbai. This prestigious institute is a jewel in the crown of the University of Mumbai. It was founded on 4th August 1934 and was recently awarded the status of the Institute on 26th January 2002 and renamed MUICT. It enjoys a unique and prominent place amongst the premier institutes that are engaged in education, training and research in the field of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology and Pharmacy in India. Located in central Mumbai over a lush green campus of 16 acres, the MUICT has a built-up area of 33000 m2 including classrooms, laboratories and hostels.

The genesis and growth of the MUICT is a sequel to the intense desire and support by the Indian Chemical Industry. Excellent symbiosis of academic excellence and industrial relevance has been a unique feature of MUICT. This year the institute has been bestowed the FICCI award in the field of research in Science and Technology for the pioneering work in chemical engineering and technology for the year 2000-2001. This is also for the first time that any educational institution in India has received the highest recognition from the apex body of industries i.e. Federation of Indian Chambers of commerce and Industries. The FICCI award commemorates the “excellent relationship that the MUICT has built with industry by commercialization of major process improvement, designs in engineering and adoption of new technologies resulting in large increase in profitability”. The award also recognizes the achievement in establishing a “culture of research in an exemplary fashion”.

American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Directory published recently shows that the number of Masters and Ph.D. students per faculty member in the Chemical Engineering Education is the highest in the world for MUICT. In a recent survey conducted by IIM, Bangalore on the relevance of academic research that has contributed to product or process improvements in the industry, MUICT appears in number one position for both chemical and pharmaceutical fields. Total 71 firms participating the survey, cited 106 academic researchers from 56 institutes. MUICT occupied the first position with 33% share in chemicals with IIT-B in the second place with only 8%. In the case of drug industry, MUICT was at the top with 52% followed by IICT, Hyderabad with a score of 28%. MUICT has focused on catering the needs of the industry by upgrading the modifying the highly specialized courses to produce chemical engineers and technologists of A class. Appropriate specialized and interdisciplinary courses are introduced to keep pace with the fast changing technology. The Masters Program in Bioprocess Technology with special emphasis on downstream processing, Masters Program in Flavour & Perfume Technology and Masters Program in Plastic Processing are some of these courses that are unique in the whole country. Most of these courses have partial or total support of the industry and allied professional bodies. In January 2001, MUICT has introduced a certificate course in Chemical Technology Management for Doctoral students of MUICT with the objective to train them to provide leadership to chemical industry and undertake entrepreneurship. The course is launched with the assistance of UICT Alumni Association. It is a matter of pride to state that on an average 30% of MUICT graduates from every class have started their own industries, most of the time without any family background of business.

The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has rated MUICT postgraduate education as the best in the country including all the branches of engineering and technology and as comparable to the best anywhere in the world. Recently, the Director, Department of Technical Education (DTE), Maharashtra State has given MUICT “A” Grade on the basis of excellent facilities with respect to teachers, classrooms, library, workshop etc.

A recent survey by Prof. Y.T. Sommerfield of Georgia Institute of Technology, USA indicates that the MUICT occupies pinnacle position in the country as well as in the world in terms of publications in International reputed Journals. Since its inception 66 years back, MUICT has maintained the highest academic parameters of attainments because of the dedicated and sustained efforts of the faculty and the enthusiastic hard work of the students. The industry has been wholeheartedly participating in the introduction of quality faculty, development of laboratories, library and other infrastructure.

The MUICT has sanctioned faculty strength of 103 (25 professors, 39 readers and 39 lecturers). At present it has the faculty strength of 63 including 25 professors, 11 readers and 27 lecturers who are supported by about 242 non-teaching staff including administrative and laboratory assistants. There are total 1216 students out of which 890 are undergraduate (245 lady students) and 326 are postgraduates (140 masters and 186 PhD, 20 and 54 women respectively). There are 11 Departments in MUICT, which include Chemical Engineering, Six branches of Chemical Technology: Intermediates & Dyes, Food & Fermentation, Oils Surfactants & Oleochemicals, Paints & Polymer, Pharmaceutical Technology & Pharmacy, Fibres & Textile Processing. In addition, there is one Department of General Engineering and three Departments of Applied Sciences: Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics, and Applied Mathematics. Talented students are attracted for the graduate and post-graduate programs since most of the major Departments enjoy the special recognition by way of special assistance programs of the UGC.

UGC Centres of Advanced Studies (CAS)

a) Chemical Engineering
b) Physico-chemical aspects of Fibres, Plastics & Dyes
Technology of Intermediates & Dyes
Paints & Polymer Technology
Technology of Fibres & Textile Processing

UGC Department of Special Assistance (DSA)

a) Food & Fermentation Technology
b) Technology of Oils, Surfactants & Oleochemicals
Pharmaceutical Technology & Pharmacy

UGC COSIST (Committee for Strengthening the Infrastructure in Sc. & Tech.)

a) Food & Fermentation Technology
b) Pharmaceutical Technology & Pharmacy

FIST Program of DST

a) Chemical Engineering
b) Food and Fermentation Technology

MUICT offers four years Degree courses in Chemical Engineering (B.Chem. Engg.), in Pharmacy (B.Pharm.Sc.) and B.Tech. in 7 branches of Chemical Technology (Dyes, Foods, Oils, Paints, Polymer, Pharmaceutical, Textile). The eligibility is 12th science. Admission for All India Seats are filled by MUICT and the remaining seats are filled by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), the Government of Maharashtra. Admission for Masters programs is in line with the UGC norms and GATE is required as an eligibility criteria. For Doctorate in Engineering, Technology, Pharmacy and Sciences, UGC / CSIR norms are followed for usual UGC sponsored seats as well as for endowment and other project positions. There are more than 200 merit -cum -mean scholarships by the Alumni, well wishers and industry. There are well-designed programs including Yoga Training, for overall personality development and student counseling.

Professor M.M. Sharma Library MUICTian is proud of. Being located in the heart of Mumbai city. It attracts a variety of readers, students, scholars, technologists and industrialists. The library has a specialized collection in the field of chemistry / chemical engineering / chemical technology and possesses some of the rare reports and books. It has over volumes (38200 books, 25290 journals and 10000 standards) and subscribes 120 international and 25 national journals. In addition there are 3000 thesis, 925 reports, 16000 microfilms/ microfiches and 30 CD-ROM. It has MOU with BONET for participating in exchange program devised by MISSAT, DST, New Delhi.

The faculty members obtain several research grants through prestigious national institutions and international collaborative research programs. International collaborative programs is a common feature in MUICT and Indo-Us, Indo-French, Indo-EU, Indo-SA, Indo-Netherlands programs were instrumental in producing several outstanding research contributions in both fundamental and applied science. Some of the important on-going international collaborations include Axonoble, Netherlands, Ensic-Topulouse, France, University of Perdue, USA, University Birmingham, UK, Huntsman Polyurathanes, Belgium Groningen University, Netherlands.

Industrial consultancy is another unique feature of MUICT faculty members. This leads to many aspects: realize and utilize the fruitful research at the implementation stage, to focus the research to the directly relevant areas with potential commercialization, solve specific technical problems faced by the industry, nurture industry-academics interactions and attract competent and highly qualified technocrats to occupy the faculty positions at MUICT. Interestingly, many faculty members pay out their salaries through the one-third share of the consultation fees to the University.

Several prestigious awards and honors have been bestowed on the faculty, alumni and the students of MUICT. These include Fellow of the Royal Society (two), Bhatnagar award (three), Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (eleven), Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences (Thirteen), Young Scientists Medal of INSA (three) etc. Highly coveted Civil Honors such as Padmavibhushan (two), Padmabhushan (five) and Padmashree (eight) have been bestowed on the faculty and alumni. In the year 2001 Padmabhushan Prof. M.M. Sharma was awarded Padmavibhushan, Dr. K. Anji Reddy and Dr. Paul Ratnasamy were awarded Padmashree. In this year, Dr. Anji Reddy, one of the nineteen diamonds of MUICT during its diamond jubilee year.has been selected as Businessman of the Year-2001 by Business India.

This year, Padmavibhushan Prof.M.M.Sharma former Director MUICT received the Life Time Achievement award by the Indian National Academy of Engineering. Business India has selected Dr. Anji Reddy as ‘Businessman of the Year ’2001.The MUICT faculty and alumni have been associated with the central and state governments. MUICT provided the first central minister Shri Manubhai Shah, Minister for Heavy Industries in the cabinet of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The alumni participate in several Government committees like those of Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, MHRD, AICTE, etc. The involvement of MUICT in framing of National policies can be judged from the fact that alumni and faculty have been members of such prestigious bodies as the Planning Commission, Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, to the Cabinet, to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Thus, the MUICT enjoys a prominent position in Academic, Industrial and Government circles.

CT campus:MUICT is spread over 16 acres. The main building faces Nathalal Parikh Marg and has a beautiful architecture with fine dressed stone. The lush green gardens of the MUICT are a matter of pride especially to the MUICT gardeners. MUICT gardens have bagged several prizes at the City level. Other buildings, three boys hostels, one ladies hostel, faculty and staff apartments are located behind the main building, the backside boundary runs along Kidwai Road. In a nutshell, the MUICT has penchant for excellence and its grand portico symbolizes Portals of Excellence.

Courses offered:

a) Chemical Engineering
b) Food Technology
c) Tech Of Intermediates & Dyes
d) Tech Of Oils,Fats & Waxes
e) Tech Of Paints
f) Tech Of Pharmaceutical & Fine Chem.
g) Tech Of Plastics
h) Textile Chemistry