Amrita University rapidly expands its reach

Tamil Nadu, India

Rated as an “Institution of Eminence” by the Govt. of India

India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) has named Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham as one of ten private universities in its prestigious “Institutions of Eminence” list. Ten public universities were also named–including highly ranked branches of the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science.

“It is a great honour for Amrita University, one of the youngest and fastest growing universities, to find a place in this prestigious list,” said Dr. Venkat Rangan, Vice-Chancellor of Amrita University.

“Our Chancellor Mata Amritanandamayi’s endeavor in providing world class education across various disciplines in such a short period of time has paid off, and this recognition serves ample testimony. With this achievement, we are sure of taking our standards to another level. We would like to thank all our stakeholders, students and faculty for all their efforts.”

The goal of the Indian government is to develop the caliber of 20 institutions to such an extent that they put the country on the global education map in both teaching and research. The selected universities are granted greater autonomy and freedom to decide upon fees, course durations and governance structures.

The Institutions of Eminence are expected to have features that highly reputable universities from other countries demonstrate. These include:

- Highly qualified faculty, with freedom to hire from across the world

- Adequate financial assistance to meritorious students to support a need-blind admissions process

- A significant proportion of international students

- Interdisciplinary courses, especially in areas of emerging technology and sustainable development

Amrita University became a deemed university in 2003 and since then, has been awarded several landmark achievements. For example in 2009, it was the youngest institution–just six years old–to ever receive an ‘A’ grade by India’s National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). It is the highest grade awarded.

In 2018, India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development declared Amrita University the country’s 8th best university under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), and in 2019, that position was maintained.

New campus opens in Tamil Nadu

At the end of July, Amrita University inaugurated its 6th campus, which is about 40 kms from Tamil Nadu’s capital of Chennai. The location will offer students an array of engineering programs modelled on a choice-based credit system and will include continuous evaluation by faculty who mentor students. The areas of engineering include Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical and Civil.

The campus is aesthetically placed between the Arani and Kosasthalaiyar Rivers and spreads across 30 acres of land. The green and serene area will host one of the best infrastructures for academics and research. It is a Wi-Fi enabled campus and has equipped classrooms with smart boards to combine human interaction with emerging technological communications. The activity-based pedagogy will make learning an in-depth, engaging experience.

All teaching faculty are doctorates from reputed institutes, and about a quarter of them have post-doctoral studies, much of which is from international teaching and research. The faculty-to-student ratio is expected to be at 1:13, with the Govt. of India’s requirement set at 1:20. In addition, foreign nationals from Bangladesh and Nepal are seeking admission in the first year.

To have all of these unique features on the day of the campus’s inauguration reiterates Amrita University’s commitment to excellence in education, community outreach and professional services.