r general of Nirma University.
The course was started in 1997, three years after Nirma Education and Research Foundation (NERF) commenced. Diploma studies followed Institute of Technology in 1995 and Institute of Management in 1996. In 2003, it got university accreditation.
"The last batch of students, which was admitted in 2013, will graduate in 2016, after which there will be no more diploma studies at Nirma. Faculty members have been given relaxation from the five-year bond they sign while joining the college. Many have already left the institute, while a few will work till 2016," said V Iyer, director of diploma studies at Nirma University.
The university website has replaced diploma studies with Centre for Continuing Education and the building now houses the Institute of Architecture. In countries like Germany and Canada, among many others, diploma studies are a must before seeking admissions to a degree college. However, faculty at Nirma rue the state of affairs here. "Unfortunately, unlike earlier years, students started using diploma studies as a pathway to an engineering degree. When the course was started, the main aim was to create technicians to be sent out in the market, but now students only look forward to white-collar jobs," said Mitesh Soni, head of department, mechanical engineering. Soni has been teaching at Nirma since 1999.
"I think most students started taking diploma studies very lightly. When I joined in 2012, there were around 125 students in my class, but there are only 89 now. Many of them were detained for low attendance and poor grades," said Rutu Patel, a final-year student."

‘We didn’t want this’
“The shutting of diploma studies is against our wishes. UGC directives mandated closure of the courses to qualify to be as a university,” said Dr Anup Singh, director genera, Nirma univ.
History
The course was started in 1997, three years after Nirma Education and Research Foundation (NERF) commenced. Diploma studies followed Institute of Technology in 1995 and Institute of Management in 1996.
‘It had became a rung in the ladder’
“It is unfortunate to know that unlike earlier years students started taking diploma studies as pathway to engineering degree. When the course was started, the aim was to create technicians to be sent out into the market, but now students only look forward to white collar jobs,” said Mitesh Soni, head of department, mechanical engg,  He has been teaching at Nirma since 1999.