ISBT is a government  aided institute receiving grants from Government of Goa, under the Grant-in-aid pattern.  Establishment of ISBT is approved by All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi.

First course to be introduced at ISBT, was Diploma programme in Shipbuilding Engineering in August 1981.  This course till today is considered as a unique course to be offered only by ISBT.  It is a sandwich type of course with compulsory industrial training of one year at shipyards located in Goa and in neighbouring states.  This course is now accepted as entry qualification for Engineer Officers by Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India.

Having achieved reasonable success in offering need based Diploma programmes, ISBT introduced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Material Handling Technology/Heat Power Engineering (now as Diploma in Mechanical Engineering) from the academic year 1990-91 and Diploma programme in Electronics Engineering with specialisation in Marine Electronics from the year 1995-96 (now renamed as Diploma in Electronics & Communication).                                                               

After the meaningful implementation of World Bank Project, under which this Institute was covered, Institute has well equipped laboratories for all its three departments, a centralized Computer Centre, an air-conditioned Self Learning Centre with attached Audio-Visual Room and other state of art facility for facilitating the teaching-learning process.  An investment of around Rs.6.50 crores has gone into development of infrastructure at ISBT under the World Bank Assisted Project.

ISBT, being managed by Industries, enjoys certain advantage as compared to other institutes managed by Govt. or other Societies.  To name a few:

1. Easy access to industries for staff and students.

2. Experienced Industrial personnel as Visiting faculty/Guest faculty.

3. Participation of Industry in development of curriculum, infrastructure development, students    

    assessment, etc..

4. Industry like approaches in all the functional areas of the institute.

5. Efficient utilization of all infrastructure of ISBT.

6. Business like approach in its management.