Diploma of Associate Engineering
Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) is a post secondary program of instructions in applied technologies. It includes regular studies having classroom lectures, workshop assignments, labs experiments, industrial projects and industrial tours. The usual program duration is three years.
Industry largely depends on technicians for production, efficient maintenance, and backup support. An associate engineer can translate scientific knowledge for improved productivity. In Pakistan, The Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) awarded by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh Boards of Technical Education is offered in 26 disciplines, including electrical, electronics, telecom, civil, mechanical, chemical, biomedical, petroleum, computer IT, IPC technologies. The Government of Pakistan recognizes it as equivalent to HSSC / Inter-Science (Pre-Engineering) for further studies purpose.
After successful completion of a Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) course, students can either continue further Engineering Studies (B.E., B.Tech) or get employment as supervisors, foremen, sales engineers, shift engineers, sub-engineers, senior draughtsmen, service station managers, auto engineers, agricultural overseers, chemical or gas plant operators, farm managers, junior instructors, workshop superintendents, etc.
There are hundreds of government and private institutes in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which offer this diploma.
In Punjab, Pakistan, the Punjab Board of Technical Education, Lahore and Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority, Lahore are responsible government bodies for technical education. Govt. Swedish Pakistani College of Technology - Gujrat is a famous institute in Punjab, which offers DAE in:
- Automation Technology
- Auto and Diesel Technology
- Electrical Technology
- Electronics Technology
- Computer Information Technology
- Foundry and Pattern Making Technology
- Instrument Technology
- Mechanical Technology
- Metallurgy and Welding Technology
- Bio Medical diploma (optional 1-year program after DAE).
- B.tech (will be started soon).
In Sindh, Sindh Board of Technical Education, Karachi, is the responsible government board for technical education. In Karachi, the DAE is an intermediate level program and is offered by a large number of private and public sector institutions. Some well-known institutions are:
- Govt College of Technology
- Govt. Staff Training College
- Pak Swiss Training Center
- Suparco Institute of Technology
- Pakistan Navy Polytechnic Institute
- Aligarh Institute of Technology
- YMCA Technical Institute
- St. Patrick's Institute of Technology
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Technology, Peshawar is responsible for this technical education. In Baluchistan, six public sector technical colleges offer DAE. Currently only one college, the Gwadar Institute of Technology, has established links with industry, namely the Jolta International Private Limited at the Gwadar Free Trade Zone, for internships leading to jobs.
In Pakistan, several government and private institutions offer DAE but the most successful institution is CTTI. CTTI is on the panels of most large companies.