The National Board of Accreditation has accredited five BTech courses of NIT Patna for two years.

National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna, was informed of the decision by the board earlier this week.

This is the first time the institution has received the accreditation from the board, which aims to ensure quality and relevance of education in professional and technical disciplines. The National Board of Accreditation, which visited NIT-Patna, in the third week of September, is to technical institutions what the National Assessment and Accreditation Council is to universities and colleges.

The National Board of Accreditation was established by the All India Council of Technical Education in 1994 for periodic evaluation of technical institutions and programmes according to the specified norms and standards recommended by the council. In 2007, it became a member of the prestigious Washington Accord under which recognition given to any technical institution is accepted across the globe.

L.B. Roy, dean, academic planning, NIT-Patna, said: "It is a big achievement for us, as degrees of NIT would be recognised globally and students will not face problems in getting admission to any foreign university for higher education. After this accreditation, the NIT-Patna syllabus, courses, research and placement activities will also be globally recognised."

The students are as glad as the institute administration.

Ankit Sharma, a third-year mechanical engineering student, said: "Before the NBA accreditation, students graduating from the institution had to appear in separate tests conducted by foreign universities for admission. Now, our NIT degree itself will be globally recognised."

The National Board of Accreditation team visited NIT in the third week of September to assess the academic and infrastructure facilities at the state's oldest engineering college.

The team judged the student-teacher ratio, placement of students, research activities carried by students and faculty members, exposure of students, lab facilities on the campus, classrooms and other parameters on the visit. The courses assessed were civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics and communication and information technology.

After the accreditation, it would be easier for the engineering institute to get funds from World Bank and other foreign agencies.

Sanjay Kumar, a teacher of civil engineering, said the institution had requested the National Board of Accreditation for recognition to the courses for five years but received sanction for only two. Sources said after two years, NIT-Patna would again apply to the board for accreditation.

National Institutes of Technology in Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu), Warangal (Telangana) and Surathkal (Karnataka) have been accredited by the board for five years.