Anna University

Infobox_University
name =Anna University
native_name =
latin_name =


motto =Progress Through Knowledge
established =1978
type =Public
endowment =
staff =
faculty =
president =
principal =
rector =
chancellor =Surjit Singh Barnala (Governor of TamilNadu, Ex-officio)
vice_chancellor = Prof. P. Mannar Jawahar
dean =
head_label = Registrar
head = Prof. S. Shanmugavel (incharge)
students =
undergrad =
postgrad =
doctoral =
city =Chennai
state =Tamil Nadu
country =India
campus = Chennai-100 acres (400,000 m²), Coimbatore & Trichy-land yet to be acquired
free_label =
free =
colors =
colours =
mascot =
nickname =
affiliations =
website = [http://www.annauniv.edu www.annauniv.edu]

Anna University ( _ta. அண்ணா ப‌ல்கலைக்கழகம்) is one of India's premier engineering universities. Established in 1978, it offers higher education in Engineering, Technology and Allied Sciences.

Anna University was formed on September 4 1978 as a unitary type of university. It integrated 4 well-known technical institutions in the city of Chennai (previously known as "Madras"), the oldest of which was the College of Engineering, Guindy, started in 1794. Perarignar Anna University of Technology (PAUT) was the original name used in 1978. In 1982 the current name of Anna University was coined removing the words "Perarignar" and "Technology". In December 2001, it was converted into an affiliating university, with almost all engineering colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu under its fold and also absorbing all the 6 government engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu as its constituent colleges.

It is also ranked tenth (10) by the Outlook India magazine for the year 2007 in the top 50 government engineering colleges in India.Anna University, one of the premier technical institutions in the country, Is committed to ensuring transfer of knowledge of the highest order from teachers to students. The transformation of classroom technology from hardware into software related tools for teaching and learning depends on knowledgeable and dedicated machers who have core-technology competencies and skills. Anna University can proudly boast of such teachers who are very knowledgeable and who serve (lie cause of education with great sincerity and dedication.

The University with its infrastructure facilities existed has started growing and raised to the standards of Higher Education and has worldwide recognition in the field of Engineering, Technology and Applied Sciences.

Considering the excellent growth of Anna University, the Government of Tamil Nadu, during December 2001, have upgraded the University from unitary typo to affiliating type of University by bringing together about 250 Engineering Colleges in the State of Tamil Nadu. Since 13 Feb, 2007 only the colleges situated in the districts of Chennai, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai and Vilupuram in Tamil Nadu State have been affiliated to Anna University. Anna University has under its fold four campuses (CEG, ACT and SAP in the Main Campus and MIT in Chromepet) having departments of Engineering, Technology and Applied sciences, and, under affiliation, about 108 self financing colleges and 1 Government College located in the above districts of Tamil Nadu.

Achievements

Anna University,Chennai turns out over 65000 engineering graduates every year, the "largest number of engineers from any University in India".Fact|date=April 2008The university has over 3800 Ph.D. Scholars registered in ts various departments of the University and in affiliated engineering colleges in the state & approved R&D organizations.

Anna University Chennai has conducted University examinations with the assistance of 10 zonal centers since 2002. About 2,55,000 undergraduate students and 35,000 post graduate students register for semester examinations and the examinations are conducted for 31 US and 70 PG Programmes involving 3,000 subjects. Nearly 2 million answer scripts are valued in 10 zonal centers by 8,000 examiners.

ISRO has permitted Anna University to start a separate TV channel by providing required equipment. The university has established Tamil Nadu’s first Interactive Satellite Terminal under the Ku Band of EDUSAT and identified as one of the channel partners in the Southern region for EDUSAI Live interactive Audio-Video lecture programmes are transmitted through Ku Band and it helps to conduct free examinations in all its affiliated colleges. A Research Center for Nanosciences and Technology has been established by the University. The Government of Tamil Nadu has provided Rs.50.00 lakhs as seed money to establish clean room facility for developing semi-conductor devices.Fact|date=April 2008

Anna University Chennai, in collaboration with the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has planned to design core engineering modules which are attractive in thejob market.

Anna University Chennai has created a “Centre for Distance Education” to conduct MCA, MBAand M.Sc. Computer related courses under Distance Education Mode. The IT Companies namely CTS., TCS., Infosys, L&T and HCL have agreed to have a common aptitude test that would rank students on the skill sets required for the industry. The university has proposed to establish a state-of-the-art building in the proposed CT Park in the Guindy Campus and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC),and has agreed to provide infrastructure for its R&D training research centre.
HP announced that the university has been awarded a "Technology for teaching” Grant of US $70,000. This grant will be used to establish a Centre for M-learning with the support of HP to engage the faculty to promote the use of mobile and wireless technologies.

• A Digital Knowledge Centre has been inaugurated in the University Library. The Library was upgraded by establishing the infrastructure facilities for Digital Library with the assistance of the student of CEG -79 batches.

• Anna University Chennai conducted a series of “Training the Trainer” Programmes in collaboration with ELCOT and software companies such as Infosys, Wipro, CTS and Scope International under the scheme of “Enhancing the Employability of Students” from the Affiliated Colleges of Anna University Chennai. The objective of this programme was to train teachers to impart communication and soft skills to students more effectively. Nearly 250 teachers were benefited from this programme.

• Anna University Chennai introduced Medical Insurance Scheme to provide health care to all the students and employees of the University. Nearly 6000 students and 1500 staff members are being benefited through this scheme.

• Anna University Chennai is establishing tie-ups with Universities and organizations abroad in order to promote research in technical Education. More than 108 National and 69 International Memorandum of Understanding have been signed so far.

• The UGC has conveyed its approval forthe upgradation of DRS programme in Dept of CSE to the level of DSA (Phase I) for a duration of 5 years, with the financial assistance of Rs.75.00 lakhs.

• The USC has sanctioned Rs.20 lakhs each to three DSA Departments of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering and four DRS Departments of Chemistry, Computer Science Engineering, Biotechnology and Geology for strengthening of infrastructure facilities.

• The USC has conveyed its approval for the upgradation of DSA (Phase Ill) programme in the DEEE to the level of centre for Advanced studies (CAS) for duration of5 years with the financial assistance of Rs.75.00 lakhs for implementing the programme.

• The USC has conveyed its approval for the continuation of the programme at tho level of DRS (Phase II) for a period of 5 years with financial assistance of Rs.46.50 lakhs for the Department of Geology.

• Anna University Chennai laid the foundation Stone for the construction of buildings in the Campus with the support of Alumni Trust for the devlelopnmiil (ii infrastructure for the benefit of students pursuing their education in various departments.

History

Born as a survey school in May 1794, the College of Engineering is one of the most venerable of British Indian Educational Institutions, and certainty, one of the most ancient of India’s professional training schools. On May 17 1794 the Survey school was started with just eight boys in a building near Fort St. George. The school has become India’s largest technological University by catering to the needs of 4 lakh students.

*1858 Surveyschool was upgraded to Civil Engineering School
*1859 School was renamed as Civil Engineering College with Lt. G. Winscom as the First Principal
*1862 The Civil Engineering College was raised to the status of an Engineering College
*1864 Graduation of first batch of B.C.E. students
*1894 First institution in India to start Mechanical Engineering Course
*1920 College was shifted to its present campus in Guindy.
*1932 First institution to introduce B.E. Electrical Engineering Degree
*1935 Introduction of Research Degree in Engineering
*1944 Establishment of Alagappa College of Technology
*1945 First institution in India to start Telecommunication and Highway Engineering
*1949 Establishment of Madras Institute of Technology.
*1957 First institution to introduce Architecture and Planning
*1970 Postgraduate in Applied Electronics
*1971 Postgraduate in Aircraft Structural Mechanics
*1978 Establishment of Anna University as technological university of unitary type
*1981 First institution in Asia to start a Postgraduate programme in Medical Physics
*1982 Establishment of Institute of Remote Sensing
*1983 First Institution in India to start B.E. in Printing Technology
*1992 First Institution in India to start B.E. in Geo-Informatics
*2007 Anna University has organised end hosted the 82nd Annual Conference on Association of Indian Universities during 26-28th, November, 2007.
*1992 First Institution in India to start M.Tech. in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals
*1996 First Institution to introduce Single Window System of Engineering admission.
*2001 First Institution in India to start postgraduate programmes in Electronic Media
*2001 Anna University becomes affiliating type technological university.
*2004 Introduction of Distributed System of Single Window Admission to Engineering Colleges
*2005 India’s First Community Radio Anna FM 90.4 MHz; First University to offer Interactive Satellite based Education to affiliated colleges Centre for Empowerment of Women
*2005 Providing State level placement Services
*2005 Providing Group Health Insurance facilities to all the students
*2005 Providing professional, communication and soft skill training to all 11w engineering students
*2006 First Institution in India to start B.E in Material Science and Engineering First Institution in India to start BE in Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering
*2006 First Institution in India to start ME. in Integrated Water Resources Management exclusively for women
*2006 Only the colleges situated in the districts of Chennai, ThruvbIIIiir, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Thiruvannamalal and Villupuram in Tamil NadLi Slidi’ have been affiliated to Anna University Chennai.
*2007 Dr D. Viswanathan, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University Chennai has been awarded with International Socrates Award by Europe Business Association, Oxford.
*2008 Anna university has introduced Bio medical engineering

Campus

The University's main campus is situated in the southern part of Chennai and extends over 100 acres (400,000 m²) adjoining the Adyar River and the Raj Bhavan. It contains the College of Engineering,the Alagappa College of Technology, and the School of Architecture and Planning. The campus also houses three technical departments of the University of Madras. The Madras Institute Of Technology at Chromepet constitutes the second campus and extends over 200,000 m². The third campus of the University is located at Taramani near the Instronic campus, Adyar.

Constituent colleges

In 1978 the following colleges/schools were taken over by the university as its constituent colleges
* College of Engineering, Guindy
* Alagappa College of Technology
* Madras Institute of Technology
* School of Architecture and Planning

In Jan 2001 the following 6 government engineering colleges were also taken over by the university as its constituent colleges
* Government College of Technology, Coimbatore
* Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology,Karaikudi
* Government College of Engineering, Salem
* Government College of Engineering Tirunelveli
* Thanthai Periyar Government Institute of Technology Vellore
* Government College of Engineering, Bargurbhinmal

A recent Bill (2007) for taking over these 6 constituent colleges back again as government colleges is pending approval.

Aided and affiliated colleges

The Anna University Amendment Act of 2001 brought almost all Engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu under the University. This includes 6 Government Engineering colleges, 3 government-aided private institutions, and 225 Self-Financing Colleges.
* [http://collinfo.annauniv.edu:6060/annauniv/collegeall/collcat.asp?collcat=all List of Colleges under Anna University]

Celebrity alumni of Anna university

* Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Former-president of India. He studied Aeronautical Engg (6th batch) in MIT, Chromepet.
* Raj Reddy A. M. Turing Award laureate (the only Indian to have won this award)
* Sujatha - Popular Tamil writer
* Akkineni Nagarjuna- popular movie actor (also holds an M.S. from University of Michingan).
* Krishnamachari Srikkanth -Former captain and opening batsman of the Indian cricket team
* Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan -Former captain of the Indian cricket team, Umpire and cricket administrator
* Writer, Actor 'Crazy' Mohan
* Upendra J. Chivukula (an American politician, served in the New Jersey General Assembly)
* Y Gee Mahendra, Actor.
* Mouli, Producer (telugu), writer and actor
* Kutraleeswaran, swam six channels in 1994 and was included in the Guinness Book of World Records.
* Raghav, "Aye Nee Romba Azhaga Irukka" fame Tamil Music Director.
* Kalyanasundar, Geologist

Trifurcation of Anna University

Anna University have been split as Anna University Chennai, Anna University Trichy and Anna University Coimbatore from January 2007. While Prof. P. Mannar Jawahar continues as the vice Chancellor but with limited jurisdiction of Engineering colleges around Chennai only,separate Vice chancellors named below have been appointed for each of the 2 new Universities .Dr.R.Radhakrishnan-VC, Anna University CoimbatoreDr.V.Ramachandran-VC Anna University Trichy

In the view to improve the quality of education in southern part of Tamil nadu, the government of Tamil nadu has announced to form one more Anna University at Tirunelveli. Refer item no. 51 [http://www.tn.gov.in/budget/budsp07_08_1.htm#Higher%20Education] , [http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/24/stories/2007032409650800.htm] , [http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/24/stories/2007032414140500.htm]

Miscellaneous

* Perarignar Anna University of Technology (PAUT) was the name used from 1978 through 1982. In 1982 the current name of Anna University was coined primarily removing the prefix "Perarignar".
* Anna University Chennai, has been granted 5 STAR status by the National Accreditation CommitteeFact|date=February 2007
* College of Engineering, Guindy, constituent college of Anna university, is ranked 8th among top engineering colleges in India, only next to the seven IITs.Fact|date=February 2007
*Anna University Chennai has bipartite service tie-ups with institutes like CLRI, Coastal Carolina University, Beach University of Southern Florida, Ansal Institute of Technology, NOIDA and Amity Business School, Ghaziabad etc, to improve their educational structure as well its own.

Recent events

Cancellation of entrance exams

In June 2005 the Government of Tamil Nadu decided to discontinue the TNPCEE, an entrance examination for professional courses in all engineering and medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, that is held annually by Anna University, and to base admissions into professional courses solely based on the Higher Secondary school examinations. This order was challenged in the court. The court decided to go with the TNPCEE model for admission. So, for the year 2006, the admission process will be very similar to previous year. Then in 2007 the entrance exams were finally done with and the Higher Secondary School Exams became the sole crietrion.

External links

* [http://www.annauniv.edu Anna University Homepage]
* [http://www.au-kbc.org AU-KBC research centre - India's first public-private research centre]

References