Annamalai University

Annamalai University

Aṇṇāmalai Palkalaikkaḻakam (Tamil)
Coat of arms
Other name	Tamil: Aṇṇāmalai palkalaikkaḻakam
Former name	Sri Meenakshi College
Motto	"With Courage And Faith"
Type	State University (Government)
Established	1929; 95 years ago (1929)
Founder	Raja of Chettinad S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar (His Highness the King of Chettinad)
Accreditation	NAAC • MOE • Government of Tamil Nadu
Academic affiliations	UGC ACU NBA AIU NAAC AICTE ICAR NCTE PCI MCI DCI MOE WES INC DEB
Chancellor	Governor of Tamil Nadu
Vice-Chancellor	R. M. Kathiresan[1]
Academic staff	2,281[2]
Students	32,480[2]
Undergraduates	23,256[2]
Postgraduates	8,067[2]
Doctoral students	998[2]
Location	Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu , India 11.3908°N 79.7148°E / 11.3908; 79.7148
Campus	Rural, 1,500 acres (610 ha)
Language	English Tamil
Colours
Nickname	AU
Website	annamalaiuniversity.ac.in

The Annamalai University (informally titled as AU) is a public state university^[3] in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The 1,500-acre (6.1 km²) sprawling campus offers courses of higher education in arts, science, engineering, management, humanities, agriculture, and physical education. The university also provides more than 500 courses through distance education.^[4] With over 32,480 students residing on campus, it is one of the largest teaching, and residential universities in Asia,^[5] and is among the most reputed and ranked universities in India including the rankings from NIRF, QS World University Rankings, Times University Rankings, CWTS Leiden Ranking, India Today Magazine, India Today MDRA, AISHE, ARIIA, SCImago Institutions Rankings.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has conferred accreditation to the university in the fourth cycle, and subsequently with its highest A+ grade in 2022.^[6] Annamalai University is also recognized among the top 18 universities in India having the 'Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Area (CPEPA)' with a focus on drug development and climate change.^[7]

Administrative building of the Annamalai University

Established in 1929, it is one of the oldest and among the most prestigious universities in India. The university was also ranked as 18th most influential institution in India^[8] and, It is also among the topmost google searched universities in India as well as in the World.^[9][10][11]

Annamalai University is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). All the degrees awarded by Annamalai University senate are mutually recognized by all Indian Universities and Foreign Universities under the commonwealth fold.^[12][13] The Division of Continuing Education or Directorate of Distance Education of the university is also a permanent member of AMDISA (Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia) that provides the SAQS Accreditation (South Asian Quality System) to the Institutions.^[14]

Foundation and history

Raja sir Annamalai Chettiar in London

The university was founded in 1929 by the entrepreneur Rajah Sir S. Rm. M. Annamalai Chettiar in the aftermath of the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms. In the early 1920s, to serve the downtrodden and to promote Tamil literature, Rajah Sir S. R. M. Annamalai Chettiar founded Sri Minakshi College, Sri Minakshi Tamil College and Sri Minakshi Sanskrit College in a rural setup at Chidambaram. In 1928, Rajah Sir S. R. M. Annamalai Chettiar agreed with the local government to hand over the above said institution for establishing a university. Thus, on 1 January 1929 Annamalai University was established as per Annamalai University Act 1928 (Tamil Nadu Act 1 of 1929).^[15] The most significant development is the enactment of the Annamalai University Act, 2013 (Tamil Nadu Act 20 of 2013), which came into force from 25 September 2013, after obtaining the assent of the President of India.^[16]

Faculties

The university has ten faculties, namely agriculture, arts (including management studies), education, engineering and technology, fine arts, Indian languages, marine sciences, and science.^[17]

Organization and administration

AU Senate

Governance

The organizational structure of Annamalai University consists of the Senate, the Syndicate, the Academic Council, the faculties, the Finance Committee, and the Boards of studies. The governor of Tamil Nadu is the chancellor of the university. The vice-chancellor is the executive head of the university. The registrar of the university, who is the secretary of the Syndicate, is the custodian of all the records and chief administrator of the university. The examinations of the university is managed by Office of the Controller of Examinations.^[18]

Schools and departments

Annamalai University is one of the largest unitary, teaching, and residential Universities in Southern Asia consisting of 10 faculties and 49 departments of study. This university has played a pivotal role in providing access to higher education to thousands of youths cutting across the social spectrum, especially from economically and socially disadvantaged classes. In this respect, this university's service to the Nation is tremendous. Annamalai University is organized into ten main schools, each of which comprises multiple departments and centres as below.^{[citation needed]}

The Main Entrance Arch of the university

Faculty of Arts

English, History, Political Science and Public Administration, Economics, Commerce, Sociology and Social Work, Population Studies, Business Administration, Library and Information Science, Centre for Rural Development, Philosophy.^{[citation needed]}

Faculty of Science

Department of Mathematics, Department of Statistics, Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry, Department of Botany, Department of Zoology, Department of Earth Sciences, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Department of Microbiology, Department of Computer and Information Science.^{[citation needed]}

Faculty of Marine Sciences

Centre of Advanced Study (CAS)

Faculty of Indian Languages

Department of Tamil Studies Research, Hindi, Sanskrit, Center of Advanced Studies in Linguistics.

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

Computer Science and Engineering (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning), Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science), Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing).^{[citation needed]}

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Fine Arts

Nagaswaram, Thavil, Miruthangam, Flute, Bharathanaatiyam, Nattuvangam, Vocal, Thevaram

Faculty of Agriculture

Agronomy, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agricultural Economics, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Extension.^{[citation needed]}

Faculty of Medicine

Rajah Muthiah Medical College

Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Pediatrics, TB & Chest Disease, Dermatology Venereology and Leprosy, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Psychiatry, Radiology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Anaesthesiology, Neuro Surgery, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Nursing, Emergency Medicine.^{[citation needed]}

Faculty of Dentistry

Periodontology, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Public Health Dentistry, Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Microbiology, Anatomy, Pharmacology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.^{[citation needed]}

Affiliated Colleges

In July 2021 Higher Education Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr K. Ponmudy announced to change the status of Annamalai University from unitary to affiliating university. The university have colleges affiliated to it from four districts, namely Cuddalore, Kallakurichi Mayiladuthurai and Villupuram.^[19] In his recent announcement 14 more colleges of Mayiladuthurai district merged with Annamalai University which was earlier affiliated with Bharathidasan University.^[20]

Controversies

In March 2022, the UGC warned students against enrolling for any online and distance learning courses offered by the university as it did not have the requisite recognition to do so from the UGC.^[21]

According to University Vice-Chancellor Mr. RM Kathiresan the degrees were offered as per the Madras High Court direction as the university is having a stay order to the UGC's direction imposing jurisdictional restriction is still valid. And all the hearings and proceedings were in the favour of our varsity. So Unless the UGC's gets that stay vacated the degree distance programmes are valid. He further added that a National Assessment and Accreditation Council review team visited the campus between March 16 and 18. As the results are expected anytime, we will go for distance education board approval and get it done. The problem will be sorted out soon.^[22]

Mr. R Singaravel, director of distance education at the university, said the students degree will not become invalid with the UGC notice. As we are the oldest and most prestigious university under Government of Tamil Nadu and offering our programmes before the existence of UGC and IGNOU.^[23]

UGC's circular that distance education courses at Annamalai University are not valid is incorrect. Contempt of court. The High Court issued a restraining order in our favor in 2018 in favor of the UGC Circular on the grounds that it was in our favor in relation to our university jurisdiction. The UGC reissued a similar circular while the injunction was in force. Subject to contempt of court. Students studying at our university actually have no legal issues. Their courses are legally valid.^{[citation needed]}

University officials also stated that Annamalai University Act 1929 was signed and approved by both the then governor general of the British government and the governor general of the central government.  The Annamalai University Act 2013 was approved by both the governor and the president of the state. Therefore, the jurisdiction of the Annamalai University. The same applies to the whole of India as it does to the central universities. Other state university laws are not like that. One approved by the governors of the State, & Annamalai University remote drive is something that appeared long before the emergence of Delhi IGNOU University. Distance Education as DEC. Something that appeared even before the Council appeared and announced the protocols.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2023 Madras High Court protected and validated all the degrees and courses offered by the Annamalai University under Distance or Executive mode. The court in its order said that the operation of the notice was stayed earlier in 2016 and students were admitted legally and those students who have admitted and who have completed courses will not be affected by our order dismissing the writ petitions. As regards challenge to the circular restricting the education of students was stayed by the Madras High Court and those students who have completed their course will be entitled to their respective degrees by the Senate of Annamalai University. The court clearly stated that the students who have been enrolled in programmes under the protection of Interim orders of this court will stand protected and their degrees will be valid.^[24]

Academics

Accreditation

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council accredited Annamalai University with a grade of "A+" in 2022.^[6] The Faculty of Agriculture of Annamalai University is accredited with ICAR (NAEAB).^{[citation needed]}

Rankings

University and college rankings
General – international
QS (Asia) (2023)[25]	301-350
Times (Asia) (2022)[26]	501-600
General – India
NIRF (Overall) (2023)[27]	151-200
NIRF (Universities) (2023)[28]	101-150
Engineering – India
NIRF (2023)[29]	151-200
Pharmacy – India
NIRF (2024)[30]	27

On 6 August 2022 Annamalai University was ranked 15th in India overall among government universities by the magazine India Today.^[31]

The university was ranked 27th in India by the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) in the pharmacy and Agriculture ranking of 2024.^[32]

Division of Continuing Education

The Annamalai University Directorate of Distance Education or Division of Continuing Education was established in 1979 and offers more than 500 courses, including MBAs. All study programmes offered by the Senate of the university are approved by the Distance Education Council (UGC-DEB) & All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The B.Ed. programme is approved by the National Council for Teacher Education.^[33]

Annamalai University opened its first international office in Toronto, Canada, in 2006, named Annamalai Canada. As it does not have degree-granting authority in the province of Ontario, it acts as a recruitment office for international students for programs and courses in Tamil language, literature, arts, yoga and dance. It offers bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees awarded by Annamalai University's main campus.^{[citation needed]}

Annamalai University is India's first and oldest university to offer Distance Education Programmes after receiving the assent from the central government.^{[citation needed]}

Scholarships and awards

Annamalai University - CSE Department

A total of 356 scholarships and awards^[34] are given to eligible candidates every year.

Notable alumni

• P. C. Alexander, Indian Administrative Service officer, former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Governor of Maharashtra^[35]
• K. Anbazhagan, Former Member of Parliament of the Republic of India
• Subbiah Arunachalam
• Sridevi Ashok, television actress
• C. Sylendra Babu, renowned Indian Police Service officer of Tamil Nadu cadre
• K. Balachander, Indian director, producer, writer, actor, playwright, stage conductor, and comedian who worked mainly in the Tamil film industry; graduated in Zoology
• Bala V. Balachandran, founder and Dean, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, India
• K. Balakrishnan (CPI-M), politician
• R. K. Baliga, father of the Electronic City in Bangalore, India
• T. K. Doraiswamy, poet and novelist
• Ere. Elamvazhuthi, MLA for Cuddalore constituency of Tamil Nadu from 1967 to 1970 representing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
• Kulandei Francis, activist, social worker, recipient of the Magsaysay Award in 2012^[36]
• R Gandhi, retired deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India
• A. S. Gnanasambandan, Tamil writer, scholar and literary critic from Tamil Nadu, India
• Kovai Gnani, writer and Marxist thinker^[37]
• Ravi Gomatam, quantum physicist, director of Bhaktivedanta Institute and Institute for Semantic Information Sciences and Technology, Berkeley, and Mumbai
• Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer judge, presidential candidate, Minister for Law and Irrigation Kerala
• Narayanaswamy Jayaraman, organic chemist and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate^[38]
• D. R. Karthikeyan, Indian Police Service officer from Tamil Nadu
• G. Nammalvar, agriculturist, scientist^[39]
• V. Narayanasamy, politician, Former Chief Minister of Puducherry^[40]
• K. A. Mathiazhagan, senate member of this university, Minister of Tamil Nadu and speaker of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.
• Vennira Aadai Moorthy, Tamil comedy actor
• N. S. Satya Murthy – physicist, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate^[41]
• G. Balakrish Nair, Indian microbiologist
• K. S. Narayanaswamy, Carnatic veena exponent of the Thanjavur style
• Nedumaran, Tamil politician from the state of Tamil Nadu, South India
• V. R. Nedunchezhiyan, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu
• K. Ponmudy, Minister Of Higher Education
• Vijaya T. Rajendar, Tamil actor, singer, director and politician
• Panruti S. Ramachandran
• Sujatha Ramdorai, professor of mathematics and Canada Research Chair at University of British Columbia^[42]
• Savitha Reddy, dubbing artist in the southern India film industry
• V. Sethuraman, dermatologist and actor
• V. T. Sambanthan, fifth president of Malaysian Indian Congress and one of the founding fathers of Malaysia
• E. V. Sampathkumaran, condensed matter physicist, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate^[43]
• Narayanasami Sathyamurthy, scientist
• Pakkiriswamy Chandra Sekharan, forensic expert and Padma Bhushan recipient
• S. S. Sivasankar, Minister of Tamil Nadu Transportation,Former Minister of Minorities MLA (Kunnam (State Assembly Constituency))
• S. D. Somasundaram, former cabinet minister
• S. Srinivasan, aerospace scientist and Padma Bhushan recipient^[44]
• Vijayalakshmy Subramaniam, Carnatic music vocalist
• M. Swaraj, MLA Kerala
• Ramanuja Vijayaraghavan, Indian physicist, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate (1976), UGC Raman Award (1983)

See also

• List of educational institutions in Tamil Nadu

References

1. "New Vice-Chancellor takes over at Annamalai University". The Hindu. 24 November 2021.
2. "University Student Enrollment Details". www.ugc.ac.in. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
3. "List of State Universities as on 29.06.2017" (PDF). University Grants Commission. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
4. "Distance Education". Annamalai University. March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013.
5. "About us: Annamalai University". Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
6. "NAAC gives Annamalai University an A+ grade". The Hindu. 22 June 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
7. "University Grants commission ::Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Area". www.ugc.ac.in.
8. "Annamalai University basks in academic glory institutes globally". The Times of India. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
9. "5 Indian universities in Google top 20 most searched for". India Today. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
10. "The 20 most searched universities in the world on Google". Times Higher Education (THE). 24 September 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
11. "5 Indian universities in Google top 20 most searched for; Google search". Engineering, Science & Technology Resources Portal. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
12. "ACU members". www.acu.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
13. "MEMBERS | AIU". www.aiu.ac.in. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
14. "AMDISA Institutional Members - India". www.amdisa.org. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
15. "1929TN1.pdf" (PDF). laws of India. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
16. "auact2013.pdf" (PDF). Annamalai University. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
17. "Annamalai University Home Page". under Faculties.
18. "Annamalai University". annamalaiuniversity.ac.in. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
19. Staff Reporter (20 July 2021). "Annamalai University to become an affiliating university". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
20. Krishnamoorthy, R. (12 April 2022). "BDU's territorial jurisdiction shrinks after ceding 14 colleges in Mayiladuthurai to Annamalai University". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
21. "Annamalai University ODL courses "invalid"". 3 April 2022..
22. "TN varsity challenges UGC order saying no to admission". Hindustan Times. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
23. "ugc: Annamalai University distance degree after 2014-15 is invalid, says UGC". The Times of India. TNN. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
24. Sajeev, Upasana (26 January 2023). "Madras High Court Upholds UGC's Power To Impose Territorial Restrictions On Distance Education Courses". Live Law. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
25. "QS Asia University Rankings 2023". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 8 November 2022.
26. "Asia University Rankings 2022". Times Higher Education. 2022.
27. "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2023 (Overall)". National Institutional Ranking Framework. Ministry of Education. 5 June 2023.
28. "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2023 (Universities)". National Institutional Ranking Framework. Ministry of Education. 5 June 2023.
29. "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2023 (Engineering)". National Institutional Ranking Framework. Ministry of Education. 5 June 2023.
30. "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2024 (Pharmacy)". National Institutional Ranking Framework. Ministry of Education. 12 August 2024.
31. "India today ranking" (PDF).
32. "NIRF Ranking 2024" (PDF).
33. "Directorate of Distance Education". www.annamalaiuniversity.ac.in. Annamalai University. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
34. "Scholarships". Annamalai University. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008.
35. "Alphabetical List Of Former Members Of Rajya Sabha Since 1952". Rajya Sabha website. Retrieved 23 October 2017. Click his name "Alexander, Dr. P. C." and then "Biodata".
36. Akbar, Irena (23 August 2012). "'Poverty is a crime; it needs to be eliminated' - Indian Express". The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
37. "Marxist thinker and Tamil writer Kovai Gnani no more". The Hindu. 22 July 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
38. "Faculty profile-Narayanaswamy Jayaraman". Indian Institute of Science. 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
39. "Organic farming veteran Nammalvar dead". The Times of India. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
40. Kishore, Kavita (6 June 2016). "In Puducherry, V Narayanasamy is a chief minister whom almost no one wants". First Post. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
41. "Deceased fellow-N. S. Satya Murthy". Indian National Science Academy. 2017. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017.
42. "Home page of Sujatha Ramdorai". www.math.tifr.res.in. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
43. "INSA :: Indian Fellow Detail - Professor EV Sampathkumaran". insaindia.res.in. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
44. T. S. Subramnian (September 1999). "Pioneer of Indian rocketry". Frontline. 19 (11).

External links

• Official website