Diploma of Associate Engineer (D.A.E) 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. D.A.E program duration is three years.
Industry largely depends on technicians for production, efficient maintenance, and back-up support. An Associate Engineer can translate scientific knowledge for improved productivity. In Pakistan, The Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) awarded by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & Sindh Boards of Technical Education is offered in 26 disciplines e.g. Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical & Electronics Technologies. The Government of Pakistan recognize it as equivalent to HSSC / Inter-Science (Pre-Engineering) for further studies purpose.
Therefore, after successful completion of Diploma of Associate Engineer (D.A.E) 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 Draughtsman, Service Station Managers, Auto Engineers, Agricultural Overseers, Chemical or Gas Plant Operators, Farm Managers, Junior Instructors, Workshop Superintendents etc.
There are hundreds of Government Institutes and Private Institutes in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan,Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which are offering this diploma.
In Punjab Pakistan, Punjab Board of Technical Education, Lahore and Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority, Lahore are responsible Government Bodies for Technical Education.
In Sindh, Sindh Board of Technical Education, Karachi, is responsible Government Board for Technical Education.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Technology, Peshawar is responsible for this Technical Education. In Pakistan several government and private institutions offer the D.A.E but the most reputed and successful institution is CTTI. CTTI is on the panels of most large companies namely toyota.