The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) had for a long time been concerned with ways to make its expertise and facilities available to qualified technical personnel in industries, universities and research establishments. On a small scale, the Institute's facilities were always being used through short-term/refresher courses, but these activities were not coordinated by a single entry. The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) was set up in 1975-76 to function as a focus for all such activities and to promote a variety of programmes relevant to specific target groups