Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Infobox University
name = Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham


motto = Shradhavaan Labhathe Jnaanam
mottoeng = The earnest aspirant gains supreme wisdom
established = 2003
type = Private
chancellor = Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
vice_chancellor = Dr. P. Venkat Rangan
faculty = 1500
students = 12000
city = Amritapuri, Bangalore, Ettimadai, Kochi, Mysore
country = India
campus = Both urban and rural
website = [http://www.amrita.edu www.amrita.edu]

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham or Amrita University is a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary research university located in India. Its five campuses are in the three states of South India, in Kerala at Amritapuri and Kochi, in Karnataka at Bangalore and Mysore, and in Tamil Nadu at Ettimadai. The University Headquarters are at Ettimadai, near the foothills of the Western Ghats, about twenty km from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. With an elephant-shaped hillock looming large in the background, this campus is considered as one of India's most picturesque campuses.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-08-24
url = http://www.livemint.com/2008/08/25012137/A-Bschool-leveraging-educatio.html
title = A B-school leveraging education and spirituality
work =
publisher = The Wall Street Journal, livemint.com
accessdate = 2008-09-30] Extensive interaction between all campuses is made possible through the Amrita-ISRO satellite network for e-learning.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2004-05-17
url = http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/17/stories/2004051705100500.htm
title = Amrita Varsity Launches Satellite Network
work =
publisher = The Hindu
accessdate = 2008-09-30]

The University offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs in computer science, engineering, business, biotechnology, nanotechnology, ayurveda, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, social work, journalism, education, and basic sciences. Areas of specialization which include Medical Informatics, Computational Engineering, Cyber Security, Clinical Research, and Oncology have been designed keeping in mind India's National Development Plans. 12,000 students are enrolled in nearly a 100 different degree programs. Notable visitors who regularly interact with the students include the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who observed, "Amrita University has a major role to play in transforming our society into a knowledge society through its unique value-added education system."cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2005-12-20
url = http://www.amrita.edu/accomplishments/media/asian_business.pdf
title = Asian Communication Quarterly
work =
publisher = Media Asia
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ]

Amrita University is only five-years old. It is young, considering that many of the eminent Indian Universities are at least a few decades old. Most renowned Universities of the West are also much older, some going back to over a century even. cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2005-12-20
url = http://www.calit2.net/newsroom/release.php?id=768
title = President of India Launches Historic Indo-U.S. University Network
work =
publisher = California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2)
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] In partnership with national and international organizations, it has undertaken research projects to benefit society.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-09-01
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080901/jsp/knowhow/story_9768501.jsp
title = Early Warning System
work =
publisher = The Telegraph
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] For example, a project to investigate the use of wireless sensors in a novel mannercite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-08-25
url = http://cordis.europa.eu/ictresults/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/id/89979
title = Wireless sensors learn from life
work =
publisher = ICT Results
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] , is currently underway to help predict disasters in landslide-prone areas. Another project involves the design and fabrication of an inexpensive, indigenous insulin pump for use by diabetic patients in poorer countries.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-02-15
url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2503/stories/20080215250311000.htm
title = Education Hub
work =
publisher = Frontline
accessdate = 2008-09-30] Such collaborative research is actively promoted by the University.

Chancellor

The Hugging Saint

The Chancellor of the University is India's famous spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma, or Mother. Affectionately referred to as The Hugging Saint cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2006-07-18
url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-18-amma-humanitarian_x.htm
title = Amma: The Hugging Saint
work =
publisher = USA Today
accessdate = 2008-09-30] , by the world-wide media and press, today Amma is revered by thousands of people all over the globe. cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2003-09-24
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3136524.stm
title = Devotees flock to hug Indian guru
work =
publisher = BBC
accessdate = 2008-02-19] . Amma's humanitarian activities have attracted global recognition cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2004-01-23
url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/01/23/stories/2004012301640600.htm
title = Compassion as philosophy of life
work =
publisher = The Hindu
accessdate = 2008-09-30] , and she is regularly invited to speak at international summits including those organized by the United Nations, the Parliament of the World's Religions, etc. cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2000-08-28
url = http://www.millenniumpeacesummit.com/news000825c.html
title = Millenium World Peace Summit
work =
publisher = The World Council of Religious Leaders
accessdate = 2008-09-30] . Amma started Amrita University in order to promote scientific research in India and provide the youth of the nation with access to quality higher education.

Inspired by the Chancellor, many noted academicians from all over the world have left lucrative jobs and high-profile careers to join Amrita University.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2007-10-01
url = http://www.prism-magazine.org/oct07/feature_bangalore.cfm
title = Prism
work =
publisher = American Society for Engineering Education
accessdate = 2008-09-30] Amrita Alumni Association or A3 [http://www.amritaalumni.net/ ("website")] is the umbrella association for the large numbers of alumni of Amrita University all over the world. At the 2007 Campus Day organized in Amritapuri, representatives from the association presented a check for Rs. 50,000 to fund the education of poorer students. “We want to pay our respects, our gratitude to our Guru Amma. We thought the best way to do this would be to help a deserving student experience the fruits of great education, like what we got from Amrita,” the representatives said.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2007-04-13
url = http://www.amrita.edu/accomplishments/media/gurudakshina.pdf
title = Gurudakshina of A3
work =
publisher = amritapuri.org
accessdate = 2008-09-30]

Education for Living and Life

Amma says, “There are two types of education: education for a living and education for life. When we study in college, striving to become a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer, this is education for a living. On the other hand, education for life requires understanding the essential principles of spirituality. This means gaining a deeper understanding of the world, our minds, our emotions, and ourselves. We all know that the real goal of education is not to create people who can understand only the language of machines. The main purpose of education should be to impart a culture of the heart; a culture based on spiritual values.”cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2004-07-13
url = http://www.amritapuri.org/
title = Keynote Address at Parliament of the World's Religions
work =
publisher = Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust
accessdate = 2008-09-30] All students of Amrita University receive mandatory training in meditation and yoga and an exposure to the cultural heritage of India.

Research

Centers of Excellence

The Centers of Excellence carry out research in areas that are of strategic importance for a developing nation such as India. For example, the Government of India has planned an investment of upto Rs 1,000 crore in nano-technology.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2007-04-01
url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5936/is_/ai_n23953319
title = Government to invest Rs 1,000 crore in nanotech
work =
publisher = Economic Times
accessdate = 2008-09-30] In February 2007, the Amrita Center for Nanosciences became the nation's first center to be setup for tissue engineering and stem cell research.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2007-02-18
url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/18/stories/2007021819880300.htm
title = Combine science and spirituality: Union Minister
work =
publisher = The Hindu
accessdate = 2008-09-30]
Inter-disciplinary research is strongly promoted. The Centers for Digital Health and Digital Earth, for instance, participate in telemedicine projects to bring specialized healthcare to rural India.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-07-22
url = http://businesstoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6319&Itemid=1&issueid=35&page=in&latn=2&limit=1&limitstart=0
title = Healthcare for the Other India
work =
publisher = Business Today
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2006-04-10
url = http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=5147
title = Telemedicine: Medical treatment from far, far away
work =
publisher = McGill Daily
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] The Center for E-learning develops the software and infrastructure needed, which will eventually also help bring distance learning to village clusters.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2004-09-14
url = http://www.cxotoday.com/India/News/Amrita_University_Powers_e-Revolution/551-1468-908.html
title = Amrita University Powers e-Revolution
work =
publisher = CXOtoday.com
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2005-08-14
url = http://www.indiaempowered.com/full_story.php?content_id=76249
title = INDIA EXPLAINED, INDIA EMPOWERED
work =
publisher = The Indian Express
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] .

International symposiums organized by the Centers include the Healing Across Cultures Symposium in 2007 organized by the Center for Environmental Studies.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2007-07-11
url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/11/stories/2007071159930400.htm
title = True Healer is an Earth Healer
work =
publisher = The Hindu
accessdate = 2008-09-30] Products developed include Amrita MiTrans made at the Amrita Research Labs (ARL) to facilitate delivery of high bandwidth information to moving vehicles to help with flight scheduling, location tracking and other content delivery.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-01-09
url = http://www.livemint.com/2008/01/09120949/System-for-multimedia-informat.html?d=1
title = System for Multimedia Information in Moving Vehicles
work =
publisher = livemint.com Wall Street Journal
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ] ARL has filed for a patent for this product.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-01-08
url = http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080108/26483.htm
title = Amrita Research Develops System for Moving Vehicles
work =
publisher = India PRwire
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ]

Collaborations

Strong collaboration with national and international organizations is the hallmark of all research carried out at Amrita University. The earliest research projects were initiated in partnership with Indian Government Organizations such as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2004-11-01
url = http://www.hindu.com/edu/2004/11/01/stories/2004110101040600.htm
title = Research Projects Get Priority Here
work =
publisher = The Hindu, Education Plus
accessdate = 2008-09-30] . The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), which helps promote industry-university collaborative research provided funding to start two research centers, in Biomedical Engineering and Cybersecurity, respectively.

In 2005, an MoU was signed with many Ivy League US Universities to bring world-class technical education to India.cite web
last =
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authorlink =
date = 2005-07-20
url = http://www.indianembassy.org/press_release/2005/July/29.htm
title = Press Release
work =
publisher = Embassy of India
accessdate = 2008-09-30] In 2008, as part of the European Research and Educational Collaboration with Asia (EURECA), faculty and students from Amrita University will have the opportunity to conduct research at any of the nine partner European Universities. Funding will be provided by the European Union. .cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-07-01
url = http://www.mrtc.mdh.se/eureca/
title = External Cooperation Window
work =
publisher = EURECA
accessdate = 2008-09-30]

Academics

The Healthcare Campus

Amrita Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry at Kochi [http://www.aimshospital.org/academics/education.html ("official website")]

Attached to the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, a 1300-bed super-speciality hospital in Kochi that provides the best medical care regardless of the patient's ability to pay,cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2007-09-01
url = http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200709/coverstory30.shtml
title = Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi
work =
publisher = Express Healthcare
accessdate = 2008-09-30] is the University's healthcare campus. The Amrita Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Dentistry are all located on this campus. They respectively offer MBBS, Bachelors of Science (Nursing), Bachelor of Pharmacy, and Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree programs.

The School of Medicine also offers a large number of graduate programs including MSc in various disciplines, DNB (Diplomate of National Board), and PhD. In 2008, the first batch of MBBS students graduated with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presiding over the graduation ceremony.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-02-05
url = http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020561020300.htm
title = Kalam’s Charter for Doctors
work =
publisher = Outlook Magazine
accessdate = 2008-09-30] Outlook (magazine) ranks the School of Medicine as 8th in the nation.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-06-30
url = http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080630&fname=ALead+Essay&sid=4
title = Top 15 Medical Colleges
work =
publisher = Outlook Magazine
accessdate = 2008-09-30]

Amrita Schools of Engineering

at Amritapuri [http://amritapuri.amrita.edu/ ("official website")] , Bangalore [http://www.amrita.edu/ase/bangalore/ ("official website")] , and Ettimadai [http://www.amrita.edu/ase/coimbatore/index.htm ("official website")]

The Amrita School of Engineering at Ettimadai predates Amrita University. In 1994, when it was established, it became the first Amrita institution for higher education. In 2008, the School celebrated its 13th Institution Day.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-03-08
url = http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/08/stories/2008030858630400.htm
title = Amrita School of Engineering celebrates Institution Day
work =
publisher = The Hindu
accessdate = 2008-10-01] In a survey of nearly 1500 AICTE-approved engineering colleges in India, Outlook (magazine) ranked the Amrita School of Engineering as 21st among private engineering colleges.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-06-30
url = http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080630&fname=ALead+Essay&sid=3
title = Top 35 Private Engineering Colleges
work =
publisher = Outlook Magazine
accessdate = 2008-10-01] Considering placements alone, the School received the 11th rank.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-06-30
url = http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080630&fname=ALead+Essay&sid=9
title = Placements
work =
publisher = Outlook Magazine
accessdate = 2008-10-01]

The three Schools of Engineering offer B.Tech degree programs in Computer Science and Engineering, Information Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering. In addition, M.Tech and PhD degree programs are also offered.

Amrita School of Business

at Ettimadai [http://www.amrita.edu/asb/ ("official website")]

The School offers a fully residential two-year MBA degree program. Equipped with infrastructure that rates as one among the best among Business Schools in India,cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-08-24
url = http://www.livemint.com/2008/08/25012137/A-Bschool-leveraging-educatio.html
title = A B-school leveraging education and spirituality
work =
publisher = The Wall Street Journal, livemint.com
accessdate = 2008-09-30] the School attracts students from all over the country and also from abroad. In addition, it offers a dual degree program leading to an MS in Information Technology and MBA in collaboration with State University of New York at Buffalo, for working professionals at the Bangalore campus.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2006-01-03
url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/03/stories/2006010302200200.htm
title = Amrita - New York Universities Launch Joint Programs
work =
publisher = The Hindu
accessdate = 2008-09-30] Faculty members are highly qualified with degrees from IITs, IIMs and reputed foreign universities such as University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, NYU Stern School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, and Kellogg School of Management. Outlook (magazine) ranks this School as 27th among Business Schools in the nation.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-09-29
url = http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080929&fname=ALead+Essay&sid=2
title = Top 50 B-Schools
work =
publisher = Outlook Magazine
accessdate = 2008-09-30]

Other Schools and Programs

Amrita Schools of Ayurveda [http://www.aimshospital.org/ayurveda/index.html ("official website")] and Biotechnology [http://biotech.amrita.edu/ ("official website")] at Amritapuri

The School of Ayurveda offers the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical Science (BAMS) degree program. The School of Biotechnology offers BSc and MSc in Biotechnology, BSc in Microbiology, and MSc in Bioinformatics, as well as the PhD degree programs.

Amrita Schools of Arts & Sciences at Amritapuri [http://amritapuri.amrita.edu/asa/index.html ("official website")] and Mysore [http://www.amrita.edu/asas/asas/home.html ("official website")]

The Schools offer Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Business Management (BBM), Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA), Master of Computer Applications (MCA), Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science and Information Technology degree programs.

Amrita School of Education at Mysore [http://www.amrita.edu/ased/ ("official website")]

The School offers the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree program.

Programs Directly Offered by the University

Degree programs in social work (MSW), and communication (BA and MA) are directly offered by the University. BA in Mass Communication, which helps prepare students for careers in journalism, short film making and advertising, is modeled on UNESCO guidelines. Amrita University was one among the first Indian Universities to adopt the UNESCO model curriculum.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2008-04-28
url = http://www.hindu.com/edu/2008/04/28/stories/2008042850360500.htm
title = Media Course with UNESCO Model Curriculum
work =
publisher = The Hindu, Education Plus
accessdate = 2008-09-30 ]

References

ee Also

*Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
*Mata Amritanandamayi Math
*Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences
*Centre for Excellence in Computational Engineering

[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/Engschool.png]