VELLORE: The Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University is offering a unique combination course, B Tech in Mechanical Engineering with specialisation in Automotive Engineering, in the 2010-11 academic year. The four-year course, first of its kind in the country, is being offered following an MoU signed between VIT and Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan said, the VIT has been offering M Tech Automotive Engineering in collaboration with ARAI since 2004. Positive response from the students and industry prompted it and ARAI to cooperate for the B Tech programme. "The joint venture of industry and academia was necessary for educating and training the automotive engineers to meet the industry needs. Since the growth in the automotive sector had been phenomenal in the past few years, this programme will produce specialised engineers conversant with both analytical and practical skills," he added. ARAI director Shrikant Marathe said the MoU reflects the mutual interest in automotive education to address the growing need of resurgent automobile and allied industries in India and elsewhere. "Human resource development is a key factor. Only engineers who can contribute innovative solutions can stimulate the development of the automotive industry," he added. He said, the VIT-ARAI team developed a new curriculum for this sector. The facilities required for practical training, which are prohibitively expensive for an educational institution, are available at ARAI, he said. VIT pro-chancellor Sekar Viswanathan said 60 students would be admitted to the new course. Faculty from ARAI would visit the VIT to conduct certain course modules, while some modules and practical sessions would be imparted through video conferencing. Students would spend the first three years at the VIT campus and the final year at the ARAI.