The world is changing and so many in this development are driven by engineers. Engineers don’t sit around and watch – they do things. Engineering graduates use innovation, creativity, and a wealth of knowledge to disrupt industries. The Knowledge Review is cover The 10 Most Promising Institutions in South India, 2020 issue in this edition.

1. www.theknowledgereview.com
India | 2020 | VOL. - 11 | ISSUE - 03
ICCS College of
Engineering & Management
The 10 Most Promising Institutions in South India, 2020

4. EDITOR’S
NOTE
he southern part of India has always been known for
Tits literacy rates and educational institutes. Be it
school education or higher education, the southern
states have always disseminated quality education with
various initiatives from the government, public-private
partnerships and collaborations with industries.
Higher education in South India has always been scaling new
heights. Educational schemes and scholarships have helped
students of all strata to take the benefit of education. South
India is known to spend the most on higher education as
compared to the other states of the country.
South India has excelled in all spheres of education and if
the experts are to be believed, the education models or
practices can be replicated across the country to equip
students with all the requisite skills to help them scale
heights in their careers.
EXCELLING
IN ACADEMIC
SERVICES

5. In the Fifth Higher Education Conference in Chennai
last year, experts discussed the potential of South
India to be the hub of higher education.
Long before the pre-independence period South
India had tied the nuptial knot with education, and it
is only getting stronger by the day.
The ever-growing love for education, the thirst to
acquire knowledge and the eagerness to satiate this
thirst, the consistent approach to bettering the
education system and quality prompted us at The
Knowledge Review to feature few of the many
institutes in the southern states in our latest edition,
The 10 Most Promising Institutions in South
India, 2020.
On the cover, we have ICCS College of
Engineering and Management that is empowering
the students with technology and social skills,
imparting high quality academic and professional
training. We have also featured Saveetha Institute
of Medical and Technical Sciences that has been
exhibiting educational excellence since more than
three decades, Loyola Institute of Business
Administration that are producing future global
citizens with competency, competitiveness, ethics,
social responsibility and much more, National
Institute of Fashion Technology Chennai that is
grooming the future fashion makers.
As you flip through the pages of this interesting
edition, do also read the articles and CXO curated by
our in-house editorial team and industry expert
respectively.
Have a wonderful time reading this edition! T R
Sumita Sarkar
sumita@theknowledgereview.com

6. Saveetha
Institute of Medical
& Technical Sciences
Sculpting Exceptional
Medical Professionals
COMPANY OF THE MONTH
ARTICLE
Shift in Learning
Learning environments
change for good
ICCS College
of Engineering
& Management
Nurturing Self-motivation,
Research, and Problem-solving
skills among Students
10
Cover Story
18
26

7. 22
Loyola
Institute of Business
Administration
Producing Globally
Competent Leaders
with Ethics
32
PROCESSING THOUGHTS
How do you dene success?
Is it wealth? Is it happiness?
Or is it your life?
36
CXO
NIFT Chennai
Pioneers in creating
fashion designers
Contents

8. NOVEMBER, 2020
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11. URL
Name of the Institution Brief
ICCS College of
Engineering & Management
iccscem.ac.in
Establishing educational and social institutions
to match the upcoming demands and needs
Loyola Institute of
Business Administration
liba.edu
Developing effective leaders with a global
perspective and ethical values
NIFT Chennai nift.ac.in/chennai
Transforming students into professionals whose
scope for employment remains vast in the eld
of haute couture
Saveetha Institute of
Medical & Technical
Sciences
saveetha.com
Exhibiting excellence in education by ensuring a
faculty-student ratio of 1:8.
Sona College of
Technology, Salem
sonatech.ac.in
Producimg technology graduates with
competency to excel in the organizations they
serve and to cater to the needs of the
community.
Tamil Virtual Academy tamilvu.org
velsuniv.ac.in
vinayakamission.com
Vel Tech Dr.RR & Dr.SR
Technical University veltech.edu.in
Providing opportunities for Tamil people
around the world by making them tech-savvy
To nurture excellence in teaching, learning,
creativity and research
Shaping and ne tuning students as per the
requirements of global industries
Helping every student to achieve excellence in
their chosen eld of specialization
vit.ac.in
Educating students with innovative methods to
improve the quality of higher education on a
consistent basis
THE
1 MOST
PROMISING
PROMISING
INSTITUTIONS
INSTITUTIONS
IN SOUTH INDIA,2020T R
Vels University
Vinayaka Mission’s
Research Foundation,
Deemed University
VIT University

12. ICCS College of
& Management

13. f Engineering
t Nurturing Self-motivation, Research, and
Problem-solving skills among Students
C
o
v
e
r
S
t
o
r
y
We are dedicated to
establishing educational
and social institutions
to match the upcoming
demands and needs
“
“

14. The world is changing and so many in this
development are driven by engineers. Engineers
don’t sit around and watch – they do things.
Engineering graduates use innovation, creativity, and a
wealth of knowledge to disrupt industries. The majority of
today's products and services involve at least some
engineering elements, paving the way for people influenced
by them to live long and healthy lives.
The wide array of disciplines under the title engineering
means that regardless of the interests of the student, one
facet of the sector is bound to be alluring and engaging.
Regardless of whether one wants to make, construct,
design, or construct civil, electrical, chemical, or
mechanical engineering, the engineering industry has its
place.
With evolution at bay, we need engineers in an advanced
technological world to put ideas into practice. By using
mathematical and scientific principles, engineers develop
solutions for the most important technical issues in the
world.
For the same reasons, we commence The 10 Most
Promising Institutions in South India, 2020 with ICCS
College of Engineering & Management, an ISO 9001-
2015 Certified Engineering Institute which is creating a
bright career for students who will shape the world beyond
the horizon.
The College vision and mission are read as:
Vision
To be in the forefront in community development through
quality education by empowering young generation with
technology and social skills to mould as Social Engineers.
Mission
To engineer the next generation with emerging
technologies, social skills, and essential guidance at the
right moment. Also, to provide high quality academic and
professional learning opportunities in various fields which
are designed to advance technical, intellectual, cultural,
social, and economic well-being of the society
Quick Reasons to Choose ICCS
• Earn while ‘you’ learn
• Multidisciplinary approach
• Integrated courses on B. Tech with BBA/ BCA and MBA
from NAAC A grade University
• Job Assured Professional Certificate courses in
“ “
Our college campus is
entrenched with an intention
to provide quality education
in engineering studies

15. Engineering 4.0 (Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning,
Internet of Things, Data Science, Robotics and Full Stack)
from International Skill College
• Internship with international industries in and outside
India every year
• Twenty short skill courses in every year
• Twenty-five companies to offer part-time jobs.
• Start-up facilities
ICCS at a Glance
Previously known as SETCEM, the ICCS College of
Engineering was established in 2010 with the approval by
AICTE, and affiliation to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological
University.
At ICCS, the engineering discipline has been expanded into
five different sectors, Civil Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Chemical
Engineering, and Food Technology. It has succeeded in
implementing different approaches and strategies in
teaching and engineering the process to gain unique
experience as a newly established institute.
A Society that Contemplates Innovation
The institute is set up in a quiet, eco-friendly setting with an
outlook on rural growth. The atmosphere is therefore
effective in letting students concentrate on curricular,
extracurricular events with the greatest pleasure, without
any unnecessary interruption. The college also encourages
interaction zones, reprographic hubs, campus cafeteria, and
open room for students to show their creative flair.
ICCS has paired up with well-qualified, industry-
experienced faculty for the highest expertise in teaching.
Management is willing to provide them with more
preparation and research and development facilities in their
respective fields of expertise.
Courses at ICCS
ICCS provides the best-in-class system for students to study
without any restrictions. They also implement all the
appropriate categories of laboratories for each school,
which, in addition, lets students attain the highest level of
education without depending on any external assistance.
With the professionally built, industry-experienced
equipment, the laboratory environment will be much more
practical than the book environment.
“ “
We are committed to
facilitate seamless access to
such platforms throughout the
academic period to each
and every student
THE
1 MOST
PROMISING
PROMISING
INSTITUTIONS
INSTITUTIONS
IN SOUTH INDIA,2020T R

16. The extracurricular events and out of-box projects aimed at
teaching students about modern technology and promoting
their creative, entrepreneurial perspectives have strongly
added. Students are given a range of resources to learn about
emerging technology, including Artificial Intelligence,
Machine Learning, Blockchain, Neural Networks,
Neuromarketing, IoT, Robotics, Biometrics and many more, by
workshops and conferences conducted in collaboration with
industry’s representatives.
Popular Courses at the institute include:
UG Level Programmes
Civil Engineering: Prepares students for the world of
unlimited possibilities in this sector.
Computer science & engineering: Students learn the concepts
and skills needed for designing, programming, and applying
computer systems while also learning the theoretical and
mathematical foundations of computer science.
Mechanical engineering: Through an academically strong
theory and practical programs, students build a solid
foundation in Mechanical Engineering.
Food Technology: Produces professional food scientists and
technologists who can take a leading position in developing
regional people’s socio-economic status
Chemical Engineering: Produces skilled, social, and ethical
Chemical Engineers capable of taking leadership posts on the
industrial and/or societal environment.
Diploma Level Programmes
Civil Engineering: Plan, design, construct and maintain civil
engineering structures and buildings
Mechanical Engineering: Practice or apply the principles of
Mechanical Engineering in a variety of employment areas.
Dr. Sojan V Avirachan graduated
from Anna University in Chennai
with an MBA in Finance and HR in
2007. As reorganizing his talent and
activities in the nancing industry,
he received an Honorarium
Doctorate from International Tamil
University in 2018, particularly in the
cooperative sector. He worked as a
branch manager in a reputable
nancial rm and won the
organization's best award at India's
best investment nance company.
He is now Chairman Cum
Managing Director of the Indian
Cooperative Credit Society.
About the Chairman
ICCS focus on the
overall development
of the students with
special emphasis on industrial
and corporate training
and reinforce
employability skills.
“
“

17. Qualied Teachers
Brilliant and erudite teachers ready
to fabricate engineers of tomorrow.
Academic Brilliance
& Development
Targeting 60% in all semesters, Semester
clearing without supplementary papers,
3% built upon semesters
Graduation degree allows students to learn
a subject in-depth, have the exibility to
t your studies around your working life,
Graduation Degree Project Training and Development
Industrials Exposure, Industrial Tie-ups,
On job Training
Library System
A library system, also known as a library
management system, is an enterprise
resource planning system for a library,
used to track items owned, orders made,
bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed.
Condence building in English, English
Fluency, Presentation skills
Language Training & Development
The ICCS Advantage
Electrical & Electronics Engineering: Provide graduates with a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and engineering
fundamentals to enable them to devise and deliver efficient solutions to challenging problems in electrical, electronics and
allied disciplines
A Look into Future
The institute will continue to provide excellent education across engineering disciples for the students. For the forthcoming
years, ICCS has planned to commence Management Courses, Arts and Science Courses at the institute. Further, the College
wants to make the department more vibrant and a hub for entrepreneurship and placement and enhancing placement ration
with the help of Alumni.T R

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The Knowledge Review

20. Shift in Learning
NOVEMBER | 2020
18

21. he Covid-19 pandemic saw a sea-change in the
Tway education is imparted. Though many
educational institutions had introduced digital
mode of education, it was at a very minuscule level.
Little did anyone imagine that virtual classes would
totally replace the physical classroom sessions.
Particularly, in India where online education had just
began to percolate across all geographical locations,
the seismic change was a huge jolt.
Adapting to this change was not easy even for the
teachers, students and parents in the urban sector.
One can then only imagine the scenario in rural areas.
But as the need arises in any crisis, there is no choice
but to accept, adapt and implement.
The roadblocks are aplenty in rural India, ranging from
network issues to availability of resources and skilled
manpower.
Lot of students are unable to access the internet, many
do not have the gadgets but some proactive teachers
chose to reduce this gap by volunteering to take
classes for their students.
Some committed teachers in rural India and Kashmir
were reportedly conducting classes for students in the
open with social distancing and masks. A government
teacher the remote Nandurbar district rows 14 km daily
so that the students do not suffer. In the urban areas,
however, according to a survey more than 60 percent
parents refused to send their children to school even if
they reopened. Instead, parents want the government
to take the necessary steps to improve online learning.
It is pertinent for education to continue, particularly
during adverse times like this to keep children engaged
and in touch with learning. Unless education providers
do not find alternatives to conduct classes, education
would take a backseat. But teachers have always been
the backbone and pillar of the education system owing
to which they have not only learnt new skills, adapted to
new environments but have also improvised ways and
means to overcome hurdles in dissemination of
knowledge. One thing that the pandemic taught
everyone is that the show must go on no matter what.
The seismic change in the system is not restricted to
schools alone but the entire education ecosystem.
Be it remote learning or learning in the open, under the
blue sky, the learning environment has changed for
good and would continue to keep changing with
various experiments so that the student is not
affected. And these would continue at least for this
academic year. But the change, it seems is here to stay
for good. T R
19
NOVEMBER | 2020

24. roducing leaders with a rare combination of
Pcompetency, competitiveness, ethics, principles,
social responsibility, global perspective and
entrepreneurial skills is no mean feat. But for the Loyola
Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), inculcating
excellence in all of the above qualities besides providing
good academic curriculum are of paramount importance.
The Journey, Vision and Mission
LIBA’s foray into management education was with the
Part-Time PGDM in 1979 much before the existence of
AICTE and it was well recognized by the industry because
of its quality and commitment to ethics. LIBA stands for
Excellence with Ethics, which are the hallmarks of Jesuit
business education and all its programmes and activities
embody these two elements. LIBA earnestly strives to
inculcate in the students’ the values of excellence, justice,
honesty and service to the society.
The vision and mission of LIBA were framed based on the
philosophy and values of the Jesuit Higher Education.
Along with an attitude of positive thinking, high ethical
values and service to society, students are groomed to reach
'Magis' - Excellence in everything with ethics.
All our programmes are designed in line with the mission of
focusing on holistic growth and developing effective
leaders with a global perspective. There is a strand of
business ethics incorporated in every module of courses
which highlights the importance of the human element in
every aspect of decision-making.
B-School with a Difference
Competent, Committed, Creative and Compassionate men
and women for and with others -this is the core of Jesuit
Higher Education. This is what has made LIBA climb to the
top league of B Schools in India. Many schools excel but
LIBA excels with Ethics and continues its journey towards
Excellence with Ethics in preparing its students to become
globally responsible citizens surpassing all qualities.
The result of all this underpinning is seen during
placements. LIBA has an enviable record of securing 100%
placements since inception of Full-Time PGDM
programme. The pre-placement offers/interviews every year
bear testimony to the fact that our students are in great
demand in the industry.
A Far-sighted Leader
Rev. Fr. C. Joe Arun, SJ is a thought leader. The thought
INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
Producing Globally
Competent Leaders
with Ethics
LOYOLA
NOVEMBER | 2020
22

25. process he has is innovative, creative and far-sighted. His
ideation originates from his grounded training in
anthropology in Oxford, UK. He is an institution builder
and system creator. He is a multitalented leader who has a
great ease in moving from art to literature, music to dance,
behavioural studies to management studies.
To substantiate it, we can confidently say that he has been
instrumental in building many institutes. This includes
Secretary and Correspondent of Loyola College, Chennai,
where he played a key role; led 300-plus faculty and 230-
plus non-teaching staff in 32 departments and 15 institutes
to optimum level of performance; restructured its financial
system, reorganized human resources, enhanced the
infrastructure and brought all the activities under ERP
system.
He was bestowed with CSR’s award of ‘Eminent Director
of Leading Institute of India’ in January 2017.
Rev. Dr. Arun has done extensive research in the areas of
consumer behaviour, cross-cultural management, conflict
and identity construction. He has published books and
scientific papers in areas such as personal growth, culture
and interculturality, globalization and marginalisation,
leadership and strategy.
He is a founding member of Institute of Dialogue with
Cultures and Religions (IDCR) that researched into issues
THE
1 MOST
PROMISING
PROMISING
INSTITUTIONS
INSTITUTIONS
IN SOUTH INDIA,2020T R
23
NOVEMBER | 2020

26. of conflict in religions and cultures and evolved conflict
resolutions. He played a key role in founding an
engineering college by negotiating with a French group,
Icam Groupe. Now the college, Loyola-ICAM College of
Engineering and Technology (LICET), is successfully run
by Loyola College. He is one of the founding members of a
group called, Knowledge Xchange, that remains a platform
for exchanging ideas and strategies on education.
Dr. Arun is a member of European Association of Social
Anthropologists (EASA) and Anthropological Society of
Oxford, UK. He is a consultant to many companies and
organizations on strategies. He is also a trainer in
competence building, communication skills, and
entrepreneurial skills.
Courseware and Infrastructure
LIBA has responded to the broad range of changing
corporate demands by developing a wide assortment of
Executive Diploma programmes alongside our traditional
Full-Time PGDM and Part-time PGDM programmes. These
programmes are designed to cater to the working managers
to acquire and enhance world class managerial skills.
Understanding the need for a more customized approach to
the latest managerial practices, the Management
Development Centre (MDC) was formally started in 2004.
The Centre offers Post-Graduate programmes which are
tailor-made to suit needs of companies like Maveric, Ford,
TVS Logistics, RBS, to name a few. In 2006, LIBA was
recognized as a Centre of Excellence for Research by the
University of Madras and a Ph.D. program affiliated with
the University of Madras was initiated.
Realizing the importance of analytics and Artificial
Intelligence (AI), more focus is on machine learning, deep
learning and emphasis on technology enabled learning.
Incorporating the Latest
LIBA actively mandates innovative Learning-Teaching-
Evaluation by empowering the faculty to use their creativity
within the broad scope of the course syllabi. We imbed
technology in our business classrooms through an average
of five different technology tools at the same time. LIBA is
not a teaching, but a learning institute, where everyone
learns and assists in learning.
To create a unique and valued position involving different
set of activities, to transform from teachers to facilitators,
and to offer Experiential and Immersive learning that is
industry relevant, new TLA based learning system was
implemented. The new learning system is an innovative
one, modeled after the Oxford Learning System OLS. This
is in consonance with AACSB accreditation.
We do not just impart knowledge but we also form the
character of our students. The approach we take is that
every learning is a formation of character that leads to
building competencies. Thus, the uniqueness of LIBA is
that we do not simply excel, but we excel with ethics.
Faculty Development
LIBA’s faculty are qualified, experienced and connected to
industry. Constant faculty development programs enhance
their knowledge and the institute provides them with the
needed tools such as labs, simulation softwares and they
have exposure to the recent trends like machine learning
and analytics. LIBA faculty are trained in design thinking
with the help of industry experts from Intellect Design
Studio that would embed into the ecosystem of learning and
teaching. More importantly, every faculty is asked to be
associated with a company and an NGO to enhance their
teaching, which is a mandatory and non-negotiable element
in being a faculty in LIBA.
To foster ideas, alternative viewpoints and different
perspectives LIBA promotes faculty exchange programs
with foreign institutions (United States, Germany, France,
Belgium and Malaysia) and bring to the classrooms
diversity of opinion and the latest knowledge of business
practice.
Expansion Plans
For the forthcoming years, there is one thing on the
management’s mind of LIBA i.e. to innovate and expand. In
terms of expansion, LIBA will start three verticals PGBM
in Analytics, Healthcare Management, and Logistics. To
accomplish this, the institute will work with TCS
(analytics), CMC (healthcare) and Kerry-Indev Logistics
(logistics). LIBA and KerryIndev Logistics Pvt. Ltd. have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration
in the area of academics involving teaching, curriculum
development, research, internship and placement.
The construction of a 77-crore new building with state-of-
the-art infrastructure, guided by design thinking, is in
progress. This will strengthen LIBA’s resolve and provide
space for future orientations.T R
NOVEMBER | 2020
24

28. Dr N. M. Veeraiyan
Founder, Chancellor
INSTITUTE OF THE MONTH
NOVEMBER | 2020
26

29. aveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences (SIMATS),
Sbegan its journey in a single storey building more than three
decades ago and extended its bryophyllum to grow into a full-
fledged University today. It has extended its educational service to
medicine, allied medical education, engineering, dentistry, law,
management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, nursing,
physical education and architecture. In over the three decades of its
journey, the university has evolved through miles of transition to become
a university from a single institution.
The Guiding Light
Every journey has a torch bearer, and in this case, the torch bearer is an
alumnus of Madras Medical College, one of the premier Institutions of
this country. A renowned dental surgeon, Dr N. M. Veeraiyan
established a 100-bedded multi-specialty hospital in 1977 and a School
of Nursing for Diploma course, the first of its kind in Erode.
Dr Veeraiyan, Founder, Chancellor, had the ambition to start a model
dental college and started Saveetha Dental College & Hospital in
Chennai in 1988 and subsequently College of Nursing in 1992, College
of Physiotherapy in 1993 and College of Occupational Therapy in 1998
.The service to the cause of education was extended to other fields by
establishment of Saveetha Engineering College in 2001.
He had a vision to impart education at par with international standards
by updating the curriculum and reforming examination system, to
expose and engage students and faculty in research activities. This led to
the creation of a Deemed to be University namely Saveetha University
in 2005. Later three more institutions were added to the Saveetha family
- Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha School of Management and
Saveetha School of Law.
Dr Veeraiyan is a Fellow of international honour from Pierre Fauchard
Academy. His proficiency in Tamil language is revealed from the Tamil
INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL &
TECHNICAL SCIENCES
Sculpting Exceptional
Medical Professionals
SAVEETHA
27
NOVEMBER | 2020

30. book “Vaai Pal Maruthuvam”, which was co- authored by
him and fetched him an award from the Government of
Tamil Nadu.
He is the proud recipient of “The Lifetime Achievement
Award” by T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University,
Edupreneur Award by The Times Of India, Inspiration
Leaders of India Award 2013 by Gerri Schroder -
Henderson City Council Member, Dr Ruby Dhalla - Indian
Canadian Politician and Brand Ambassador PBG, Valerie
Paker - President National Association of Women Business
Owners and Award of Excellence 2013 by Indian Red Cross
Society, Tamil Nadu branch. The staff and students of
Saveetha University look up to him for guidance, as they
admire his vision and his genuineness and commitment to
the human cause and education.
Exhibiting Educational Excellence
The university offers a wide array of courses ranging from
undergraduate, post-graduation, post- doctoral, diplomas,
fellowships, certification courses which makes it around
158 courses in all. The university ensures that all the
students are attended with equal care with a faculty-student
ratio of 1:8.
Saveetha University hosts a massive and unique
infrastructure encompassing teaching and training facilities.
One of its primary beliefs as an education provider is that
students and faculty learn and perform par excellence when
they love the workplace. The university has attempted to
establish a workplace which provides comfort and
convenience along with academic resources.
The entire campus is wi-fi enabled with a connectivity
speed of up to 1.6 GBPS. For the first time in India, 100%
of the university’s clinics have adjoining ICT enabled
seminar halls for academic purposes. There are 208
classrooms and 80 seminar halls each of which hosts a
computer connected to a projector and smartboard unit. The
campus spanning high-speed wi-fi access along with its
integrated digital visual system allows for seamless
interactive classes and activities during classroom sessions.
There are 54 demonstration rooms, two simulation labs for
laboratory and pre-clinical training of students and 275 staff
rooms all of which are air-conditioned and Internet-enabled
providing a soothing yet connected working environment.
There are 258 laboratories which includes biochemical labs,
preclinical and clinical laboratories as well as an Animal
NOVEMBER | 2020
28

31. T R
House for animal studies and 21 research labs for in-vitro
and ex-vivo studies. There are 75 wards for inpatients with
adequate facilities, nurse stations and attenders’ recreation
rooms. There are 196 clinics to reduce waiting time for
patients, 24 surgical operatories equipped with imported
modular state-of-the-art surgical equipment, these facilities
are very rare in other institutions.
Saveetha University is certified as the largest centre for
microscopic training centres. Its commitment to providing a
comfortable experience extends from classrooms to
examination halls as well, for each hall is adequately
ventilated with spacious tables, chairs, and air conditioning
for students.
The University has 16 museums which display a wide array
of models and specimens. There are 27 libraries
encompassing three central libraries and 24 department
libraries. It also hosts six highly equipped auditoriums with
massive LED displays and can cumulatively accommodate
4,000 people. There are three photography studios which
enable precise documentation of patients, clinical and
laboratory procedures. The University’s other facilities
include three drawing rooms, eight placement cells, one
moot court, one tutorial room, one legal aid cell, student
counselling cell and a women empowerment cell in each
institution.
Staying at par with technology
The equipment in Saveetha University’s facilities rival that
of a large-scale IT company in terms of digital communion
to its academic workflow. For seamless integration of its
proprietary MILA education system, the university has
installed approximately 4,294 computers which includes
2,650 iPads along with 190 projectors and smartboards and
12 Apple TVs. It is also the first and only institution in the
entirety of India to host a CAD-CAM unit as well as a 3D
printer for in-house production of advanced dental
prostheses in its Tessellation Centre.
The university’s radiology department also possesses a
CBCT machine for dental implantology and surgical
treatment planning. Its combo clinic system contains 300
scaler units, 300 LC units and 400 articulators for each
student to learn and perform gold standard dental therapy.
There are about 600 dental equipment, 2,500 wards,
surgical equipment and 150 engineering related equipment.
Numerous collaborative researches across the institution
under SIMATS, across other institutions in India and abroad
are also going on. The MOUs that the university holds with
national and international universities ensures the culture of
pursuing research at various international universities by
student exchange programs.
Undergraduate students also pursue research. The university
holds thousands of publications in reputed indexed and high
impact journals. Patents and innovative strategies are of
prime importance and the university has proved its
excellence. Continuing education and faculty development
programs, workshops and conferences at all levels are a
routine all along the years.
Adequate importance is given to co-curricular and extra-
curricular activities, there is an inhouse gym, a swimming
pool, a badminton court, and a track area too. At SIMATS,
food and stay for students are also given with utmost care.
They have an al-a-carte menu which enables them to have
what they want and a hostel with an at-home environment.
A strong alumni base is another strength, where they meet
every year in the campus to see their alma mater grow and
show how they grew because of their alma mater and to
inspire the next generation too.
SIMATS holds four records in the Guinness Book of World
Records. It is accredited with “A” by NAAC, recognized by
UGC. The University has an IQAC cell for quality
rd
management. It was ranked the 43 position as a university
and fourth position as a dental college by NIRF ranking
system.
SIMATS’ prospects for the near future include an
international ac
creditation like CODA and providing health care services
with numerous satellite dental and medical units. The
university is striving hard to improvise and be a better
version of itself year after year.
SIMATS offers a wide array of
courses ranging from undergraduate,
post-graduation, post-doctoral,
diplomas, fellowships, certification
courses which makes it around 158
courses in all.
“
“
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34. o perceive Chennai today to be a regional town
Tdevoid of a sense of fashion is to remain
delusional! Bringing the city firmly into the fold of
“haute couture” and keeping it that way since 2007 has
been the motive of National Institute of Fashion
Technology, otherwise known by its famous acronym,
NIFT Chennai.
A creation of the NIFT Act 2006, it is as statutory and
seemingly iron clad as can be. There is though, an essential
difference. It is perhaps the only such institute in the world
to award its own degrees for undergraduate, post-graduate
and doctoral studies in the field of fashion education! It
started small with just four courses and forty students,
which today boasts of nine degree courses and several
diploma and certificate courses with over 1000 students.
Couture in normal parlance stands for a sense of being elite,
distinct and haughty, none of which signifies NIFT
Chennai. Compassion remains its driving force. The other
factors which make the institute stand out are its concerns
for social responsibility that makes it a platform accessible
for everyone from every background, and an environment
that encourages non-predictable thinking in realistic
situations. Creativity being central to the field, education
here is about self-learning and independent thinking with
inputs coming from various sources including the industry,
professionals and live projects. Being hands-on field,
interactions with practicing professionals via industry-led
pedagogy and mentoring by industry stalwarts is practiced
here with justified rigour. The institute professes and
practices transparency in all that it does and gives equal
opportunity to all aspirants of knowledge.
NIFT Chennai’s Charismatic Leader
Central to the growth and establishment of any entity, more
so one in education of the couture kind, is its leadership
which ought to have vision, values and a drive. At NIFT
Chennai since 2013, this has come about under the able
leadership of Prof. Dr. Anitha Manohar, Director NIFT.
A doctorate from Avinashilingam University for Women,
and M.Sc. and M.Phil. from the University of Madras, she
has over two decades of experience working at various
institutes and has been instrumental in nurturing young
designers to become promising entrepreneurs. Contributing
to several social and design projects, she is also an
empanelled PhD guide at NIFT who has to her credit
research papers published and presented at known
international fora.
A prestigious Guru Shreshta Awardee (awarded to teachers
for excellence) and a Bharat Vidya Shiromani Awardee of
2017, she is the force behind the institute’s ranking to a
proud number three in just a few years. Readily accessible,
scrupulously honest and radiating warmth, she remains a
favourite among the students, the community and in various
government bodies. Compassion being central to her
persona, she remains an able guide in all the social concern
activities of the institute.
NIFT
CHENNAI
Pioneers in
creating fashion
designers
NOVEMBER | 2020
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35. The Distinguished Faculty
A strong in-house faculty drawn from a distinguished group
of intellectuals who have spent time to gain the right
experience, form the team led by Dr Anitha. They are the
ones who put forth a sense of dynamism and create a
pathway to effective learning and facilitate meaningful
interactions with industry for real-world experiences.
Besides these, NIFT leverages the potential of guest faculty
and experts from various disciplines through a well-
integrated academic plan where the industry exchanges its
views with the students and faculty through seminars,
classroom lectures and formal interactions on specific
topics. The faculty also undergoes training regularly both
within and outside the country by way of specifically
designed training programs and sponsorships. A unique
initiative is the faculty-industry attachment under which
each faculty undertakes at least two weeks of internship in
an industry of their choice to upgrade their knowledge.
Educational Content
The institute encourages its students to study and assimilate
aesthetic industrial dynamics across levels and disciplines
in the context of inquiry-based teaching and learning. These
help in transforming students into professionals whose
scope for employment remains vast. Making this possible is
a remarkable array of courses such as:
¦ Bachelor of Design (B Des) in
Ÿ Fashion Design
Ÿ Leather Design
Ÿ Accessory Design
Ÿ Textile Design
Ÿ Knitwear Design
THE
1 MOST
PROMISING
PROMISING
INSTITUTIONS
INSTITUTIONS
IN SOUTH INDIA,2020T R
33
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36. Ÿ Fashion Communication
¦ Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B FTech) Apparel
Production
¦ Master’s Degree Programs
Ÿ Management- Master in Fashion Management (M.F.M)
Ÿ Technology - Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech)
The institute’s curriculum keeps in mind the future needs of
the industry and ensures the all-round development of its
millennial students. To this end, it has integrated general
electives in large numbers, besides its main course to give
the students a rich repertoire of experience and
understanding. To aid the student`s research and education,
the resource centre here comprises of more than 15,600
national, international books, journals, periodicals and
eBooks apart Wi-Fi being available on the entire campus.
The Award-winning Ambience
The campus of NIFT Chennai, conferred with the Journal of
Indian Architects Award of 2002, is spread over 6.5 acres.
Buildings here have unique angles, pockets and features
that exude ‘kinetic aesthetics’ said to subtly encourage
students passing by to think differently and out-of-the-box.
The facility also has a gym, football, volleyball and
badminton courts.
Social and Cultural Activities
The bit to do with life takes place while participating in
social and cultural activities on and off-campus. At NIFT
Chennai, these are in the form of Cultural Club, Sports and
Adventure Club, Environmental and Social Service Club
and Literary Club. Of these, ‘Fashion Spectrum’, the annual
fest provides a pulsating platform for students to showcase
their talent in varied inter-college and intra-college
activities and events. The best from these compete at
‘Converge’, a centralized cultural and sports event.
India’s clothing and design sense is like the mountains.
Unfortunately, without the right encouragement and
impetus, it is today scattered among artisans in different
pockets of India. The institute has initiated a ‘Craft Cluster
Initiative’ into its curricula that enables students to work in
collaboration with artisans and show their creations at
graduation shows at the end of every academic year, which
are well-attended by the who’s who of the industry. These
additionally help promote dying art forms and artists in dire
need of patronage.
Inclusion part of values and ethos
Partnerships with the surrounding community undertaken as
“Daan Utsav help” demonstrate that education is about
values such as informed citizenship and a sense of
responsibility. To this end the institute is strongly associated
with the Spastic Society of India and Ability Foundation to
nurture its students prepared to take up the complex
problems of our society if they are to succeed in their
careers.
Another initiative under its philosophy of inclusion is
‘Spectrum’, a unique event where specially abled children
from various schools and institutes in and around Chennai
showcase their talents on the NIFT platform. Each invited
institution is mentored by a department with students and
faculty teams interacting with the children to form a bond
of familiarity, which enables the latter to perform in an alien
environment with verve and confidence.
International collaborations
The world is a connected village where nothing works in
isolation for long, for want to creative inputs and energies.
The institute is thus connected through strategic agreements
and partnerships with various leading international fashion
institutes and organizations that share the same academic
ethos and ideas. These international collaborations allow
the students to experience study abroad options through
exchange programmes as also facilitate their participation
in international events and competitions. Students have won
their share of laurels and awards at prestigious events.
Future Vision of the Institute
In passing, NIFT Chennai, a renowned centre of excellence
and innovation foresees for itself the central role of a
proactive catalyst in the growth of the fashion, textiles and
craft business by providing the latest and best in
professional education with marked concerns for social and
human values. Education here would pertain to, among
other things, design, technology and management that
would encourage its remarkably creative student body to
draw inspiration from India’s textiles and crafts while
focusing on emerging global trends relevant to the
industries it serves.T R
NOVEMBER | 2020
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38. Vijay B
NOVEMBER | 2020
36

39. S
uccess is a state achieved when one attains their goals after
walking long miles in their life. It is not like getting things
in a single day, but it really needs dedicated enthusiastic
work and strong determination to have a nice taste of success. It is
the result of many years of sweat by mere satisfaction and
beautiful thoughts rather than target achieved. “Success is not
measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have
encountered” says Lucille Ball. Likewise, many failures knock
your door only to open the gate of success. Bees won’t stop their
work though their beautiful craft of honey is being used by
people. So, with fulfilled optimism,you can feel success as you are
born for it.
Questions that should hit you on the way to success are as
follows.
How can I tackle this problem in some other way so that I can
succeed?
WhatdoIneedtodototakecontrolof myfuture?
Whatresourcesareavailabletome?
WhatotherstrategiesmightI try?
Many people used to say that success is the result of hard work but
we should do smart work to have an efficient result and cent
percent satisfaction. To be a successful person, you need to be
courageous like a mountaineer reaching high peaks with his own
striving potential and will power. We all know Ludwig Von
Beethoven, a great composer of the world who was inspiration for
many, was orphaned when he was 2 years old and became deaf at
age of 25 years. Though he cannot listen to his own music, he gave
himself to this world with his truthfulness. Put your foot forward
to enjoy further chapters of your life which will enlighten the way
thatleadsyou tosuccess.
SUCCESS_MY WAY...
How do you define success?
Is it wealth?
Is it happiness?
Or is it your life?
Vijay B is an engineer by
education, a passionate
teacher by profession,
educator by choice and an
enthusiastic learner by
mind. He aspires that
education can ignite our
future persistently and also
believes in “Attitude is
everything”.He has
coordinated various
research related activities
and bagged many awards
for his innovative projects.
He is currently positioned
as a Math teacher in a k 12
CBSE school, Chennai.
About the Author
Processing Thoughts
T R
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40. NOVEMBER | 2020
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