The Department of Mining Engineering was established in the year 1982-83 in the erstwhile Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering. The Govt. of India declared this College as Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in the year 2002 and awarded Deemed to be University status.  This department offers regular B. Tech. in Mining Engineering, M. Tech (by research) and Ph.D.. The B. Tech. course has been accredited by National Board of Accreditation and was granted Grade “A” for five years i.e. up to December 2006.

In its 21  years of existence 19 batches of undergraduate students have passed out with about 350 students graduating. The performance of present and past students is comparable with that of any established institute.

The B. Tech. in Mining Engineering is a 4 year course run on semester pattern. A weightage of 40% of contact time is given for practical and 60% for theory. Assessment is based on sessional examinations, practical tests, final written examination, internal and external viva-voce examination, quality of field work, field reports, seminars and project work. The overall evaluation is 30% by internal assessment and 70% by external assessment.

The department is housed in an independent building housing classrooms, laboratories, workshop, seminar and audio-visual rooms, office, stores and other facilities in about 1400 sq. meter area. The department has implemented a number of growth programmes funded by various agencies with a total funding of about 140 lakhs and has acquired good laboratory and computational facilities. A central library caters to the needs of the department.

The core faculty comprises of 1 Professor, 4 Assistant Professors and 1 Lecturer. The core faculty is supported by 8 faculty members from other departments. The faculty is supported by 7 non-teaching staff.

The department has an excellent rapport with the industry and offers variety of services and accrues about 6 to 7 lakhs per year as revenue. Some of the prestigious assignments completed include. the investigation into slope failure at Kawadi Opencast mine where 10 miners were killed due to land slide.

The faculty is actively involved in student activities, curriculum development, departmental and institutional planning, development and administrative activities, service to industry and society, implementation of growth programs and in creating an enriching work culture.

The department is also recognized for  higher studies leading to M.E. (by research) and Ph.D. and currently 10  PG. and  8 Ph.D. scholars are registered.

The department aspires to create an internationally competitive teaching and research environment through faculty development, creation of advanced research facilities, starting regular PG programs, acquiring collaborative projects and attracting scholars, increasing liaison with industry and maintaining a creative working culture.

Mission

To create an environment conducive for attaining professional competence in the field of Mining Engineering and to provide specialised training for developing need-based human resource, students and staff, committed to academic, social and professional development.

Goals

To provide guidance and counseling to students and to establish fruitful linkage with alumni.