Department of chemical engineering came in to being from the academic year 1996-97 with an intake of 30 students. The department was initially affiliated to Kuvempu University and from the year 1999-2000 to VTU Belgaum. So far twenty batches of students have come out of this department. Around 480 students have been graduated from this department with 90 % students securing first class with distinction marks. Fifteen university ranks have been bagged by the students of this department with at least one rank in each year.

The department is having a huge building of 2000 m2 area with an investment of around 125 Lakh on equipment and laboratories. Totally 11 different laboratories have been established with a separate computer lab and internet facilities. Simulation software like CHEMCAD, SOLID EDGE are made available in the department to train the students. A departmental library containing around 900 books has been functioning to cater the needs of students.

The department has highly qualified and experienced staff. Five of the staff members are doctorate holders. The staff members are involved in many R & D projects and many of the staff and student projects are sponsored by agencies like AICTE, DST, VGST, KSCST etc. So far around 60 lakh Rupees worth R & D projects are handled by department faculty and students. Staffs regularly attend QIP and FDP programmes conducted by other reputed institutes for updating technical knowhow. Staff also has published many research papers in national and international journals. The department staff are having expertise in the areas of Environmental Management, Alternative fuels, Pharmaceuticals, etc and accordingly undertake industrial consultancy works as a part of industry institute interaction. The department has achieved 80 % placements and all of our students through on and off campus recruitments. Our students are employed by reputed companies such as Harihar Poly-fibers, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers, Jindal-Vijaynagar Steels Ltd., Mysore Petrochemicals Raichur, PSK Phrama, Harihara, Synthite Ltd., Kerala, CIPLA, Reddy’s Lab., etc. In addition to this students are also placed in reputed software companies like INFOSYS, TCS, etc. Department students are also placed in Central and State Government organizations like, Pollution Control Boards, BARC, ISRO, CFTRI, Defense laboratories, NCL, Railways, etc.

Many of the department students are pursuing higher studies in reputed institutes like, IITs, NITs and other foreign universities. Many of our students are working in reputed companies abroad and doing well. Students are regularly encouraged to undertake competitive exams like, GMAT, GATE, etc. Guidance for appearing different competitive exams is being offered in the department regularly.

Apart from regular academic work, the department is encouraging students in many co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Students present technical papers in National level seminars and symposiums conducted by other institutes. Many of them have got awards in those presentations. National level symposium in Chemical Engineering “Chemexcel” is being conducted every year.