| Ichalkaranji, popularly known as the "Manchester of Maharashtra State", is one of the most prominent textile centers of the country. One of the basic problems faced by the local, developing textile industry was shortage of technically trained manpower. In Maharashtra , Degree course in Textile Technology was offered at VJTI, Mumbai only and the output was totally inadequate to cater to the demand & needs of growing co-operative sector in Ichalkaranji. Therefore, a beginning was made by starting diploma course in Textile manufacturing in 1982. Later, the management introduced undergraduate courses in Textile Technology & Man Made textile Technology from the year 1983. After establishing the above two courses, a feed back was taken from the industry, which suggested to start a degree course in Textiles related to maintenance aspects. After consultations with the Laxmi Machinery works, Coimbatore , ATE, Himson & other machinery manufacturers, an undergraduate course in Textile Plant Engineering was started in 1985. There was a great need of technical manpower in wet processing. The constant zeal of the management of DKTE to accelerate the pace of knowledge and transactions in the girth of darkness prompted our institute to opt for starting undergraduate course in Textile Chemistry in 1987. The department is preparing the work force to face the challenges of Textile Industries by imparting upto date knowledge of Spinning, Weaving, Garmenting, Knitting, Testing, Fashion, Fibre Science, Dyeing, Printing, Finishing, Chemical testing & Computer Colour Matching. To strengthen the research base, post graduate course M.Text. in Textile Technology was started in 1997. From the academic year 2002, the Shivaji University , Kolhapur has granted the permission to register the candidates of Ph.D. in Textile Engineering. All the courses in textiles were approved & very much appreciated by the industry. Student community from all over the country showed interest in these courses. As a result, in a short time, these textile courses became popular.
The name & fame of the department of textiles has been spread around & across the width of the globe. The department has established strong interaction with the industry as if they are pals to each other. In this Byzantine competitive encourage what keeps us moving with changing technology is to keep pace with it. Thus, the department had applied for NBA. It is worth to mention that the department has been accredited by National Board Accreditation, New Delhi . Besides the department has received ISO 9001-2000 certification.
The department comprises of highly qualified, experienced and devoted faculty. It is the unique feature and heritage of our institute to encourage the faculty for improving their qualifications. And Department of Textiles is not exceptional. Faculties have been sponsored for postgraduate & Doctoral programmes.
Every year about 10% of our students are opting for M.Tech. at I.I.T. and M.S. at NCSU (America), MIT (Dartmouth), Georgia Tech., Texas Tech University, University of Leeds, Philadelhia, Clemson, U.S.A. and alike.
In a span of 25 years, syllabus of textiles has been revised fifth to make it more relevant. At present, the department has the state of art machinery in Spinning, Weaving, Textile Chemistry, Textile Physics & Testing etc. Realising the great demand of fashion technology & post graduate in Textile Chemistry the department had applied for starting B.Text. Fashion Technology & M.Text. Textile Chemistry. The AICTE & University has granted the permission to start the aforesaid courses from July, 2006.
The Govt. of India has sanctioned a cluster development scheme for the town of Ichalkaranji . Our Institute has been identified a part of the cluster development scheme for training & research and development activities. Under this scheme our Institute has been sanctioned a fund of Rs. 7.00 crores for development of infrastructure. The orders for equipment machinery, software and learning materials for first phase of Rs. 4.00 crores have already been placed. Ichalkaranji Textile Development Cluster (ITDC) SPV's registered jointly with the Ichalkaranji Muncipal Council, Industrial Estate & DKTES to upgrade the infrastructure in an around Ichalkaranji for the development of Textile Industry. It would be a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Dept. of IPP and is to be implemented by the cluster specific industrial. The share of Central Government will be united to 75% of the project cost. The remaining 25% have to be financed by other stakeholders of the respective cluster. This will definitely help in modernizing / upgrading the entire textile industry including spinning, weaving, processing, knitting, garment manufacturing & technical textiles.
Today the department has achieved a preeminent status not only in teaching but also in sponsored research & industrial consultancy. The department is in the process of collaboration with foreign universities. The department has applied for autonomous status.
Our Institute has been selected for the funding under Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) scheme by the Govt. of India for utilization the enhancement of our infrastructure facilities. The Institute has been sanction a total sum of Rs.697.22 Lakhs. |