The National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, formerly known as KREC, is a premier autonomous university along the western shores of India, founded in 1960. Today, it is one of 18 National Institutes of Technology in India and is recognized as an Institute of National Importance. NITK Surathkal has been consistently ranked as one of the top engineering colleges in the country (see Engineering college rankings in India). NITK alumni have gone on to achieve success in various fields, both in India and abroad.