DCE to DTU: Institute looses sheen enroute

While many might had expected the makeover of erstwhile Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) to the present day Delhi Technological University (DTU) as one which would bring cheers to all, further enhancing the brand name; quite the opposite has happened.With unhappy students, disinterested companies, rejected foreign varsity applications, the ground reality has a different story to tell.

Quite unexpected as one may term it, it is the present situation of students at DTU. The new name has taken the sheen off the previous brand name and left many with a feeling of being left in the lurch.
 
Especially students, who began with DCE and ended up with DTU, seem to be bearing the brunt. For, companies are not ready for DTU yet as they had opted for DCE hoping the name to work for them.
 
While earlier foreign universities were happy to accept applications from DCE, this year has seen many applications being turned down as they bore the DTU stamp. The change is not even going down well with companies coming for campus placements as well. Many have decided not to come the next year while others are giving it a re-think.
 
Clearly the recruiters are not seeing DTU in the same light as DCE. The reasons are not vague for once. The name is not just where the change got restricted to. It trickled down to management strategies, policies, infrastructure, faculty and almost everywhere.
 
DTU admitted more students this year than it did previously; there was no upgradation of infrastructure to support the enhanced inflow. The disadvantage of loosing DCE alumni tag too cannot be overlooked.
 
Thus, many students and alumni are together boycotting the change of DCE to DTU. They are supported in their protests by faculty members as well. Many students also boycotted their mid-semester exams to display their displeasure over the move and were not even pacified with the invitation for talks by the authorities.
 
Out of a total 3010 students at DTU, only 75 appeared for the exam. The exams were boycotted by fourth year students as well, for whom it was a crucial stage. The meeting with the authorities turned out to be a no-gainer. The students will now be protesting in front of the state assembly. It was clear by the level of agitation that no one is ready to accept the change. For, it is not just the future of DCE but also that of all these stakeholders which is being affected.
 
For the last 69 years that it had been in place, DCU had worked up to build a unique brand image, one which DTU will far be able to attain and the teachers, students and the alumni know this fact well.