The Ministry of Human Resources Development Grants University Status to Vel's Group

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Friday, January 11, 2008 -- (Business Wire India)

Vel’s Group of Institutions has been granted University status by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Govt. of India. From the academic year 2008-09, six colleges affiliated to Vel’s Group will come under the Vel’s University umbrella.

The newly formed university will hence have

-- School of Maritime Studies,

-- School of Arts and Science,

-- School of Pharmacy,

-- School of Physiotherapy,

-- School of Hotel Management and

-- School of Management studies.

“We offer our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Human Resources Development and the UGC for granting us University status. Though University status has already been granted through a notification, it will start functioning only from the coming academic year 2008-09”, said Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Chancellor, Vel’s University.

FUTURE PLANS – GENERAL

Vel’s Group’s future plans include initiating all steps to make the University one of the best in the country. To begin with, it has earmarked a few key areas for high end R&D and premier quality education.

These areas include:

-- Maritime Studies that provides huge economic opportunity in our country

-- Para-medical Sciences such as Pharmacy, Physiotherapy & other key service areas to improve health care status in the South Asian region and

-- Bio Sciences: High end research in frontier areas of Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology.

The Chancellor said the University planned to apportion more than Rs. 5 crores to upgrade laboratories in keeping with global standards and create a centre of excellence that would focus on Life Sciences, especially in microbiology, biotechnology and bioinformatics.

Some of the benefits that would accrue to the students through the grant of University status would include a lower fee structure for the economically backward, student scholarships for the meritorious and tie ups with prestigious global universities to update curricula & prepare students for the global market.

It also plans to introduce cutting edge courses with facilities for applied research study. Some of the new courses the university plans to add include M.Sc. (Electronic Media), B.Sc. (Visual Communication), M.A. (Mass Communications / Public Relations) and new specialties like M.B.A. (Retail Management) & M.B.A. (Supply Chain Management).

FUTURE PLANS – MARITIME SECTOR

“We have grandiose plans, especially with regards to our School of Maritime Studies. We have planned to make it a premier institution and a model school in India. For the first time ever in India, we have acquired a Full Missions Bridge Simulator from Kongsberg, Norway (the world’s best simulator). One can actually simulate real time maritime experience in any part of the world and under any form of duress with this equipment.

We have spared no effort in this sector and taken the lead in infrastructure and course content. We already have a 100% placement record with most of our students acquiring lucrative jobs across the globe a year before passing out.

Currently, we have 300 cadets on campus for the B.Sc. course. We have the desire and wherewithal to bring in specialized PG courses like MBA (Shipping & Port Management) in the future. Something that very few in India offer, although there are many lucrative openings for candidates qualified in such specializations”, he added.

ABOUT VEL’S GROUP

Founded in the year 1992, the group began with one college, offering a degree course in Pharmacy with just about 36 students. Today the group has over 10,800 students in 15 institutions offering higher education in areas such as Engineering, Dentistry, Para medicine, Arts & Science, Hotel Management, Maritime Studies and Teacher Training.

ABOUT THE CHANCELLOR

Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, a young educationist has his doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Madras. At 40, he has single handedly lead the Group all through its fifteen years of existence and is today, the youngest ever Chancellor of a University in Tamil Nadu.