Model Institute of Engineering and Technology was established in 1996 after approval of the AICTE was received, making it the first engineering college in the private sector in J&K. However, the first batch of students was admitted in 1999 subsequent to the formulation of policies of the J&K Government governing higher technical education. Since, then MIET has graduated 12 batches of engineering students and made significant progress while adhering to its founding ideals. MIET is the flagship institution of the MIER Group (Model Institute of Education and Research) which has a glorious legacy of over 80 years, being established in pre-independence 1936. The MIER group started out as the first private school in J&K, the Model Academy. The school has produced alumni of the Stature of Gen. J.J Singh, Former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and Former Chief of the Indian Army, Dr. A.S. Anand, Former Chief Justice of India, Admiral Arun Prakash, Former Chief of the Naval Staff of India and Dr. Jitender Singh, Union Minister, Govt. of India. The MIER group also operates the MIER College of Education (http://www.miercollege.in), set up in 1981, J&K's first private college of education and the only college of education in J&K to be accorded with the "Autonomous Status" and "College with Potential for Excellence" by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It was recently re-accredited with high "A" grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). It offers the M.Ed, B.Ed, B.Ed Special Education (Mental Retardation) and MA Education programmes. Having graduated over 50,000 learners over seven decades, today the MIER group meets the educational needs and aspirations of over 4500 learners from the pre-school to the doctoral levels.