National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training & Research (NITTTR), Kolkata was established in 1965 as Technical Teachers' Training Institute (TTTI), Calcutta. This was the first among four such institutes (other three being at Chandigarh, Bhopal & Chennai) established by the Dept. of Education, MHRD, Govt. of India as fully centrally funded autonomous institutions for providing pre & in-service training to the teachers and staff of Degree and Diploma level training institutions and also for conducting various activities related to quality improvement of the technical education system of the country. The Govt of India, in 2003, accorded national status to this institute, (along with the three sister institutes) in recognition of the contribution of these institutes for the expert service rendered for overall improvement of quality of Technical Education System.

The focal activities of the institute are (i) Education & Shorte-term Training, (ii) Curriculum Development, (iii) Learning Resources Development, (iv) Research & Development and (v) Extension Services & Consultancy.

AICTE has recognized the Short-term training programmes conducted by the Institute for consideration for the purpose of movement to higher grades under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).

The Institute is also offering three (4), AICTE approved, two year (four semester) Post Graduate Degree Programmes in Manufacturing Technology, Multimedia & Software Systems, Mechatronics Engineering and Structural Engineering leading to M.Tech Degree of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT, formaly West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT)).

Some of the notable national level projects in which the Institute is associated are serving as Nodal agency to centrally sponsored Community Polytechnic Scheme; designing & conducting AICTE sponsored "Induction training Programme" for fresh teachers of engineering colleges and polytechnics; facilitating implementation of Centrally sponsored scheme for Integrating Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in the Mainstream of Technical & Vocational Education etc.

The Institute has highly qualified & experienced faculty members and excellent infrastructural support in the form of well-equipped laboratories and other resources.

The institute has established extension centers at Guwahati and Bhubaneswar for reaching out to its clients. The new mandate of the Institute has extended its clientele catchment area outside the country encompassing the Technical & Vocational Institutions of particularly SAARC & ASEAN countries.