GNA University B.Tech Review By Govind Kumar

GNA University is a recently started for people in Punjab especially living in villages, GNA is a suitable option. GNA University in Phagwara has been started by a big group and the set-up is still going on. I was from the first batch of the college and there were some flaws but I was quite happy with the overall projection and the environment at the college. Born and raised in Phagwara, Delhi is where most students from our town go and study but I chose GNA as the University promised a 100% placement and a lot of exposure but none of that happened. Understandably so because it will take time for a University to grow and at some point, I did felt as if I could have joined LPU or went to Delhi. The academic system was good as we were trained inside the campus by some of the best faculty. The course was brilliant as I compared it with textbooks of my friends from Delhi and LPU and I may sound a little over-ambitious but our course content was perhaps better.

A 71% in HSC were enough to cement a place at the University. This was the cut-off list percentage but GNA University admissions happened even a month before the 1st semester and students above 50% in 12th were accepted to fill the required quota of seats the University had. The CSE department had 60 seats and only 35-40 passed in 2018 as the rest others were still stranded at 5th -6th semester and some also left the University mid-way. The markings was tough and because it was a newly started University didn’t meant that students will be passed just like that. One had to attend all the practicals as the practical’s weightage was 30%.

The best in the country were hired as all of them were postgraduates and had more than reasonable experience at teaching. The practicals were announced during the first day of the week and if the theories were missed it was still tolerable but for the students who remained absent during practicals were never given any extra classes or sessions. Some of the faculty were from the south and that made at least students attempt to speak in English as otherwise, Punjabi is what was heard at the college. If those faculty stayed at University for the next few years, students in the University will never have their hands tight at English.

We were given training and virtual interviews started from the 3rd year because we were told that from the beginning of the next year, the companies will start visiting the campus. 3-4 companies with a meager amount offered placements to some students who were recommended by the University. This disappointed us as we were promised a lot but when it came to deliver the University failed big time. The University arranged special classes for us to prepare for M. Tech entrances and that was of some help but for the students who came to University with a lot of hope and also passed each semester without any back were gutted.

GNA University hostel for boys and girls is inside the campus. Students from all over the state were a part of the University and the hostel had a great capacity to accommodate 600+ students. Some construction work was still on and who knows if it was for a hostel. In my time, the hostel was occupied well, and from what I heard only a few rooms were left to be filled. The hostel is perhaps the only option as there are hardly any other options near the University. The students are also provided food thrice in a day and from what I know students were also satisfied with the kind of means that were provided to the students.

GNA University campus is beautiful as right from the entrance to the beautiful fountain and then the main buildings. Both the buildings of the campus are the biggest towers of the town as the residential building culture is not there in Phagwara. The campus was neat and the labs of the college need a special mention. There are some 15 labs including all the departments and all of them were well stocked. The University library is a grandstand actually and not just the academics but the non-academic books are also easily found at the library. The University canteen served the needful things like Paratha and Chole during lunchtime and tea and beverages at any point in time. The sports ground is nice and the grass and pitch are rolled every week to make sure the field is level and students don’t suffer any injury while playing.

A pure Punjabi feel is what you will get at the GNA campus. Boys were students with Gabru printed on it is the most common sight. Phagwara which is famous for drugs has luckily stayed away from the GNA campus. Some students were caught consuming it inside the premises and were handed over to cops upfront. This strict and prompt action made sure that such things never happen inside the campus. The college fest was celebrated every year and University also performed at other Universities as well. A proper engineering feel is what I had at the University.