The DES was established on February 23, 1983 when CEAT was elevated into a full-fledged college from the former Institute of Agricultural Engineering Technology (INSAET). The Department was conceived primarily to handle basic and fundamental engineering courses and serve as a springboard from which additional degree programs or departments could emerge.

• To deliver high quality engineering science education by providing continuous teacher-student learning support systems, creating state-of-the-art teaching facilities, and rationalizing and upgrading the various curricular offerings according to the needs of the different degree programs in the college and the country;
• To conduct basic and applied researches in engineering and materials science in response to the current and anticipatory needs of the country; and
• To create a strong engineering information technology foundation for the college and for the industries through the expansion and upgrading of information technology resources.