Technical Education is an important tool for building and developing sustainable communities. In this era of rapid technological advancement, engineering education must be accessible to all. By extending engineering education to rural areas, the potential of next generation of engineers, architects, and designers can be unlocked, who will play a vital role in shaping the future of their communities. The Kasegaon Education Society focuses on bringing education to the doorstep of the rural masses and founded the Rajarambapu Institute of Technology(RIT) in 1983. RIT has consistently ranked among the top technical institutes in India, including being ranked 75th in 2016 by NIRF. It has also achieved a Platinum Rank in the first 150 Institutes in AICTE-CII Survey 2020 and is ranked as a ‘Performer’ in the ATAL Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievement (ARIIA) 2021. RIT has signed over 180 MoUs with industries, research organizations, and universities in India and more than 10 foreign Universities for curriculum enhancement, student and faculty development, and research projects.

Focus on Holistic Education
RIT is a leading Autonomous Institute that offers 9 B.Tech, 9 M.Tech, 2 M.B.A., and 5 Ph.D. programs. The institute is recognized by AICTE and affiliated with Shivaji University, Kolhapur, with all eligible programs accredited by NBA. The institute has introduced a Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) which includes foreign languages, program electives, interdisciplinary open electives, and different tracks of projects. The curriculum is revised after every two years based on stakeholder feedback and academic audits. The courses offered by the institute address environmental issues, human values, professional ethics, and leadership skills, among other things, to make students industry-ready. It has also launched the NETRARIT foundation, which encourages interdisciplinary problem solving based on community needs. The institute also offers open electives like Creativity-Design Thinking and Entrepreneurial mindset and Innovation tools and methods to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset in students. “We believe that every student has the potential to develop their holistic personalities by participation in various curricular and extracurricular activities”, says Bhagatsinh R. Patil, Chairman, Board of Governance, RIT. RIT follows the strategic planning process wherein the strategic plan for the next five years is envisioned by the BoG and then it is implemented through annual plans.

RIT focuses on experiential learning and choice-based education. The institute provides many facilities to support this approach, including 1662 computers with a ratio of 2.23:1, 48 digital classrooms, 102 well-equipped laboratories, and a central workshop facility of 836 sq. mts. RIT also has a state-of-the-art library with a large reading room, digital section, seminar rooms, and comfortable seating arrangements. It has industry-sponsored laboratories with advanced software for the hands-on training of students and a digital.

platform called MOODLE for advanced/innovative teaching and learning. RIT provides hostel facilities for both girls and boys. It has a variety of sports facilities available on campus and also have a well-equipped gymnasium. The institute also offers transportation facilities for students to save time and ensure safety. NETRA-RIT-TBI, a learning studio and tinkering lab of 316 sq. mt., is another notable feature. RIT takes measures to ensure that its faculty members maintain a consistent level of quality. These measures include motivating and allowing faculty members to participate in technical and engineering education training programs both within India and abroad. The Institute also holds faculty development programs for all its faculty members and sets annual work targets for them as a part of its Annual Strategic Plan. Additionally, faculty members participate in competitions such as Quality Circle, where teams from each department work on academic problems and present solutions. “There is well structured mentoring and counseling through a mentor mentee system with a professional counselor for the needy students”, Bhagatsinh R. Patil informed.

Exposure to the Students
RIT focuses on the overall personality development of its students and provides platforms for exposure to their skills and abilities. In the academic year 2021-22, RIT organized around 75 events, workshops, and training programs across different departments, which received around 8,000 entries. It hosts national-Level events such as Hackathon’21 and State Level Elocution Competition, where students showcase their skills and abilities. RIT provides various scholarships to eligible students through the MAHADBT portal of the Government of Maharashtra, with over 9,000 students are benefited from Government scholarships in the past three years. RIT also offers financial assistance through its community fund, alumni, earn and learn scheme, stipends for teaching assistants, and meritorious scholarships. RIT also offers financial aid through various means, such as the Earn and Learn scheme, alumni donations, and tie-ups with private companies like Emerson Climate Technology, BSNL, Jindal & Jindal, LIC, Federal Bank, Vidya Pratishthan Trust, and Vijayadevi Shirke Charitable trust. RIT is expanding its infrastructure and engaging industry and alumni to offer a wholesome academic and research experience. The institute is exploring global ties with reputed Universities, sandwich pattern programs, and incubation for technology-based startups to offer industry exposure to the students.

Bhagatsinh R. Patil, Chairman, BOG, RIT
Bhagatsinh R. Patil, a Mechanical Engineering graduate with a passion for growth, worked as a design engineer before starting his engineering unit. He also founded Rajaram Solvex and Garden Court Distilleries with interests in ethanol, sugar, and renewable energy. He has also started ASCEND International School which is one of the most renowned schools in Bandra, Mumbai. He's actively involved in the progress of the Kasegaon Education Society.