The Sikkim Manipal University (SMU, as commonly known) has two department of study. The first is Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) and the other is Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT). The Sikkim Manipal University of Technology was established after 2 years of the establishment of SMU, i.e., 1997. The first works in the field of Medical Science and the other works in the field of Technology. The Sikkim Manipal University is located 8 km below Gangtok, Sikkim on the National Highway (NH) 31A, at a place called Tadong. It is about 4 km after (above) Ranipool, overlying the river Ranikhola. It is one of the well-known universities in India. The place is very beautiful in between nature. That place is ideal for studies. The Sikkim Manipal University has the campus of Majitar. It is affiliated from AICTE. The two departments of SMU are highly capable in their respective territory. The Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS), located at Tadong, is a constituent college of the Sikkim Manipal University (SMU). SMIMS offers many courses like MBBS, Nursing and Physiotherapy courses, along with M.Sc. programs in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Physiology and Anatomy. The Central Referral Hospital and STNM Hospital, Gangtok really helps the students in providing good training opportunities to the students. The Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) has two courses to offer, i.e., Medicine and MBBS. The other department of Sikkim Manipal University is the Sikkim Manipal Institute Of Technology. This department gives the students interested in technology an opportunity to study as per their interests. The Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT) was established on 14th June 1997. It has its own campus at Majitar, Rangpo, near the West Bengal and Sikkim border. But the academic session actually commenced in July 1997. The Institute takes the attraction of students from all over the country. Over 1700 students are enrolled in the various engineering disciplines in the SMIT. 102 full-time faculties are also appointed on hand to deliver quality education to the students of SMIT. SMIT is a new developing center of excellence with the latest laboratory facilities, latest available books on different subjects related to technology in library and modern means to teaching to let the students clear their concept. With the help of Sikkim Government, the institute has a mission of being the best institute in the country. SMIT is a constituent college of Sikkim Manipal University. All the programs of SMIT are approved by AICTE. The institute offers courses like B.Tech, M.Tech, M.C.A, M.B.A. The motto of SMIT is “EXCELLENCE THROUGH INNOVATION” which gives us an idea that how SMIT works for excellence of the students in it through innovating new ideas to excel in the long run of life.
The university also offers Distance Education facility to those who cannot attend classes on regular basis. It also made easy to study in the students’ own city. The university has more than 200 learning centers all over India. Alone Patna where I live has about 10-12 learning centers. The university provides sufficient facilities to the students enrolled to the respective learning centers. The university provides not only reading material (books) for the course but also give the students audio / video cds, charts and other things which comes useful in the study of the students of the university. They do so in the view that the students who are learning through learning centers cannot attend regular classes and the extra utilities make their studies easy. The faculty of learning centers is also very helpful and easily approachable to the students. There are also site that are always available and help students. There are 3 sites of the university on which students can log on, i.e., http://www.manipalu.com/, http://www.smuhmts.edu/,http://www.smude.edu.in/. These sites have all the information related to the university, the institutes and the distance education wing.
The examination commenced for different courses for the students studying through Distance Education has grading system. The questions are totally Multiple Choice Questions categorized in 1, 2 and 4 marks according to the merit of question. The students have to darken the appropriate option for each question. There is 25% negative marking for each wrong question.
The SMU has not only focused on teaching excellence but it has also provided appropriate exposure by making the presence of several high profile personalities from the field of technology that has helped students possible many times. The students of the college had an opportunity to interact with Dr. Raja Ramanna, India’s pioneering nuclear scientist. The college was also graced by the visit of Mr. B. Bhattacharya, DGM- Tata Technologies. Not only this, Prof. Rajib Mall, Professor Computer Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and Prof. Pankaj Jalote, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi visited the campus recently and gave the students many useful tips on current trends in computer technology.
The campus has a self-sufficient infrastructure. It also provides hostel facilities to both boys and girls. It also possesses State-of-the-art infrastructure, a well-stocked and equipped library, technical labs to have practical experience that is set up in collaboration with industry, industry-interaction, a placement cell. The institute offers a staggering array of graduate and post-graduate programs in diverse technical fields. It is also regular affair to organize fests in the university. The university has witnessed fests like Vaastusasmitam of Computer Science and Engineering, Bremsstrah of Department of Electronics and Communication. Recently, the institute had organized the National Conference, which attracted participants from all across the country. The institute completed its 7th Annual Convocation recently. Kaalrav, is the annual fest of the institute, in which many colleges take interest. In this event, activities like several competitions like Solo Dance, Quiz competitions, Group Dance and many more happened.
The SMU has also real capacity of placement. It has broken placement record many times in this short period. In the year 2007, the institute broke all campus recruitment records, when three giant corporate, likes of Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant Technology Solutions and Infosys visited the campus on the same day. They selected more than 300 students in a single day that is a record for any campus. Other companies like Accenture,TechMahindra, HCL, Microland, IBM Global Services, Tata Elxsi and many more too visited the campus subsequently and gave jobs to many students of SMU. The Training and Placement Cell was then headed by Dr. Shudhir Ranjan Dey, who played a vital part during the recruitment process in the year. Off-Campus Placements was also done where several unplaced candidates went to Guwahati to attend the interview process. Companies like Satyam etc. selected some of the institute's students.
So, these are the things I wanted to tell you about Sikkim Manipal University. SMU is a nice university to study. According to me, it is best university in the country.
