PEC University of Technology, formerly known as Punjab Engineering College ( PEC) is an engineering institute located in the city of Chandigarh, India. It offers engineering studies at the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels.
The PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh was established as Mugalpura Engineering College at Lahore (now in Pakistan) on November 9, 1921. The name of the college was later changed to Maclagan Engineering College and its started functioning under the name on March 19, 1924. In 1931, the college became affiliated to Punjab University, Lahore.
After partition in 1947, the college was shifted to Roorkee (India) and was renamed as East Punjab College of Engineering. In 1950 the word East was dropped and it came to be known by its present name, Punjab Engineering College. Towards the end of December 1953, the college shifted to its present campus in Chandigarh to function under Govt. of Punjab.
In 1966, with the formation of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the college came under control of the government of India through Chandigarh Administration. In October 2003, the government of India notified the Punjab Engineering College as a Deemed to be University and thereafter it became known as Punjab Engineering College (Deemed University). In 2009, the Board of Governors renamed the institution as PEC University of Technology. In 1994 this institution was adjudged the best technical college in India by the National Foundation of Engineers. It occupies an area of 146 acres (0.59 km2).
Up to 1962, the college comprised departments of Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. Thereafter the college expanded and five new departments in the fields of Aeronautical Engineering, Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering,Production Engineering and Computer Science Engineering were added.
A new department of Information and Technology has been added. In 1957, Highway Engineering was added as the first post-graduate course in the college. Now there are eleven post-graduate courses leading to Masters of Engineering degree in Highways, Structures, Hydraulics and Irrigation, Rotodynamic Machines, Electrical Power Systems, Environmental Engineering (Interdisciplinary), Electronics Metallurgical Engineering and C.I.M.
Facilities for postgraduate studies exist for regular as well as for parttime students. The college has facilities for research work leading to the award of Ph.D. degree in engineering. The college offers consultancy services.
PEC was conferred Deemed University status in 2004, and the name of the college has been changed to PEC University of Technology.
In 2009 PEC was ranked as the 17th best engineering college in India by Outlook Group. Competition Success Review-GHRDC Engineering College Survey 2009 rated it 8th amongst the engineering colleges/institutes in India. MINT survey rated it 16th amongst the top government engineering colleges in India including IITs and NITs.