1960 August 6, founded as Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KREC) with 3 UG undergraduate programs (Civil, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering) under affiliation to University of Mysore

1965 Chemical Engineering and Materials and Metallurgical Engineering undergraduate programs started

1966 Industrially oriented Postgraduate (PG) programs in Industrial Structures and Marine Structures introduced

1967 Grant of UN special fund and UNESCO International experts' assistance in development of Postgraduate programs

1971 UG program in Mining Engineering introduced

1980 Affiliation shifted from Mysore University Mangalore University

1984 UG Program in Mining Engineering introduced

1985 UG Program in Computer Engineering initiated

1988 Master of Computer Application program started

1990 PG program in Materials Engineering started

1992 Introduction of PG program in Power and Energy Systems

1993 Project IMPACT funded by Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation, World Bank and GOI

1994 Grant of MHIRD Centre of Excellence Funding Grant of UK-India REC project under IT theme KREC STEP and R&D Centre for Clay Roofing Tiles, Bricks and other Ceramics established Introduction of PG program- Industrial Pollution Control 1995 Central Computer Center Established in Independent Building

1996 PG Program in Computer Science and Engineering introduced

1998 Electronics Education Network Project funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Special Manpower Development in VLSI Design funded by Ministry of Communication and Information technology, GOI 1999 Campus wide Optical Fiber Network installed

2000 UG Program in Information Technology introduced

2002 Elevated to Status of Deemed University and renamed as National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK)

2003 August 6, First Annual Convocation of NITK

2004 Lead Institution status for World Bank funded Technical Education Quality Improvement Program (TEQIP)

2006 Launch of Centre of Excellence & Relevance (CORE) in Industrial Biotechnology in Chemical Engineering Department funded by TIFAC, DST, Govt. of India

2007 Declared as Institute of National Importance through NIT Act of Parliament (15th August 2007) Introduction of PG Program - Industrial Biotechnology

2008 All academic programs accredited by National Board of Accreditation (NBA) Recognized as major QIP centre for all PG and PhD programs Centre of Yogic Sciences & Continuing Education opened in a new building

2009 Successful implementation of World Bank Sponsored TEQIP Phase -I program
Mentoring of new institute, NIT - Goa was entrusted to NITK Surathkal by MHRD 50th foundation day celebrated Inauguration of Golden Jubilee celebrations 24th Indian Engineering Congress & 39th Annual Convention Organized Global Alumni meet was held at NITK Surathkal Induction of one BOSCH sponsored Professorial Chair in Mechanical Engineering

2010 Prepared a strategic plan for the 2010-2020 Induction of one Ministry of Steel sponsored Professorial Chair in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering New teaching Block inaugurated

2011 1512 seater Mega Hostel was inaugurated Initiation of World Bank Sponsored TEQIP Phase - II program New Mechanical Engineering building block inaugurated New Science block was inaugurated Vehicular underpass across National Highway 66 inaugurated 33 KVA substation was commissioned Global Alumni meet was held at Bangalore

2012 347 seater New ladies block was inaugurated All India admissions for UG programs to all NIT's under Central Counseling Board (CCB) was successfully coordinated by NITK Global Alumni meet held at Dubai

• Prof. P.N. Singh Former Director 26-06-2002 to 21-08-2003

• Prof. S.S. Murthy Former Director 22-08-2003 to 28-03-2005

• Prof. H.V. Sudhaker Nayak Former Director 29-03-2005 to 11-05-2005 (In-charge)

• Prof. Y.V. Rao Former Director 19-11-2005 to 18-11-2005 (In-charge)

• Prof. G.K. Shivakumar Former Director 19-11-2005 to 18-11-2006 (In-charge)

• Prof. Sandeep Sancheti Former Director 19-11-2006 to 16-11-2011 29.11.2011 to 31.07.2012 (In-charge)
• Prof Swapan Bhattacharya Former Director

Former Principals

• Prof. A. S. Adke Former Principal 09-03-1960 to 26-12-1967

• Prof. B.H. Karakaraddi Former Principal 27-12-1967 to 12-01-1977

• Prof. K. Mahadevan Former Principal 13-01-1977 to 30-10-1983

• Prof. B.S. Basavarajaiah Former Principal 31-10-1983 to 15-01-1988

• Prof. T. Ramachandran Former Principal 16-01-1988 to 07-08-1988

• Prof. N.R. Shetty Former Principal 08-08-1988 to 11-03-1993

• Prof. B.T. Nijaguna Former Principal 12-03-1993 to 18-09-1994

• Prof. P.Sudhakara Shetty Former Principal 19-09-1994 to 30-11-1997

• Prof. P.N. Singh Former Principal 01-12-1997 to 17-01-1999 (In-charge) 01-08-1999 to 20-09-2000 (In-charge) 21-09-2000 to 25-06-2002

Prof. M.R. Pranesh Former Principal 18-01-1999 to 31-07-1999