It was established by an act of State Legislature on 16 January 1997, to promote technical, management and pharmaceutical education in the Punjab state at the degree level and above. Being an education and research university, it has a mandate to set up centres of excellence in emerging technologies and for promoting training and research and development in these areas. The university has 150 engi
neering colleges, 156 management colleges, 96 pharmacy colleges, 68 architecture colleges, 41 B.Sc MLT colleges and 42 hotel management and catering technology colleges, and 302 learning centers under distance education. It has taken new initiatives in technical education to provide latest trends in technology and give opportunities to student and faculty to interact with the technology leaders in the country including e-Governance to PTU. Quality improvement and research
Quality of education is dependent on the quality of teachers and research input. To provide opportunity to the faculty to improve their qualification and to introduce research activities, the university has established nine regional centers in Punjab, has started M.Tech courses and agreed to provide academic research input to these centers. PTU forms the bridge between the students and the industry and helping the students in job placements. The university helps the industry in R&D through its programmes under Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The university has established a school of TQM and entrepreneurship in Mohali. Distance Education Programme (DEP)
In a country like India, distance education is an effective way of spreading education and technology to the people. Keeping up with the spirit of an Open University system and in accordance with National Policy of Education, which emphasizes continuing and distance education, the university is providing quality education in rural and urban areas.
