Goa campus of BITS Pilani is a dream come true of our visionary former Chancellor Dr K K Birla. The campus started functioning from First semester 2004-05 with an annual intake of 600 students in 11 first degree programmes. Higher degree programmes were started from First semester 2008-09. Till date, four batches have graduated from this campus; I am extremely happy to say that Goa campus alumni have made us proud by their contribution to industry and academia.

To perpetuate the memory of our former Chancellor the campus has been renamed as BITS Pilani, KK Birla Goa campus.

While the campus was initially planned to cater to first degree programmes only, it is a matter of pride that our faculty have been able to attract research funding from various agencies right from the initial years of establishment of the campus. The campus has hosted a number of national and international conferences. Of course this has given rise to a welcome need for more academic spaces, which we are planning now along with the Chancellor’s growth plan for the Institute. In the coming years, Goa campus will double its strength, mostly in higher degree and research programmes. The campus would like to harness its strength and develop R & D capablilities in various areas. To name a few, our thrust areas will be in Chemical sciences, Materials including nanomaterials, embedded systems, computer networking, data security, energy and environmental issues, biosensors, entrepreneural skills development, etc.

Our students, on their part, were quick to establish three popular annual intercollegiate festivals, viz., Quark (academic), Waves (Cultural) and Spree (Sports). In taking up social responsibilities, they are second to none which is amply demonstrated in their participation in Nirmaan and Abhigyan.

I have great confidence in our students, staff and faculty that this healthy trend will continue in the years to come and our mission of becoming the best among Technical universities by 2015 will be fulfilled.