Shiv Nadar Foundation today announced the launch of its third initiative in the field of higher education- “Shiv Nadar University Chennai”.
Shiv Nadar University Chennai Launched – the First Private University to be Legislated in Tamil Nadu After 90 Years
Mr. R Srinivasan to be the Chancellor of the University and Dr. Kala Vijayakumar appointed as the Pro Chancellor
Dr. C. Rangarajan, 19th Governor of Reserve Bank of India and Dr. Raj Reddy, Indian-American computer scientist and winner of the Turing Award to be distinguished mentors
The University announced admissions for four programs under the School of Engineering, and School of Commerce and Management for the academic session 2021-22
Chennai, October 29, 2020: Shiv Nadar Foundation today announced the launch of its third initiative in the field of higher education- “Shiv Nadar University Chennai”. The University is the first private University to be legislated in Tamil Nadu after 90 years (since Annamalai University Act in 1928), upon the passing of the Shiv Nadar University Act 2018. Shiv Nadar University Chennai will be housed in a sprawling, vibrant campus at Kalavakkam. It will be home to world-class facilities including academic and research blocks, state-of-the-art cricket stadium, library, sports centre, hostel facilitates for students and a faculty housing complex, auditorium, guest house and 24/7 internet access. The new University was virtually announced by Ms. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCL Technologies and Trustee, Shiv Nadar Foundation in the presence of Mr. R Srinivasan, Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University Chennai along with Dr. Kala Vijayakumar, Pro-Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University Chennai.
Dr. C Rangarajan, former Governor of Reserve bank of India and one of the most eminent economists and policymakers of the country, and Dr. Raj Reddy, acclaimed computer scientist, University Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and winner of the Turing Award will be distinguished mentors at the University. The University has also appointed a renowned academician from one of the IITs as the Vice Chancellor, who will take over the role in December 2020. Additionally, the University announced the appointment of Dr. T. Nagarajan as Professor and Head of Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Dr. S. Gurusamy as Professor and Head of the Department of Commerce, School of Commerce and Management.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCL Technologies and Trustee, Shiv Nadar Foundation said, “My father, Mr Shiv Nadar, is a product of education and strongly believes in its power to transform people’s lives. The Shiv Nadar Foundation was created with this vision and has established institutions offering world-class education to contribute to nation building. The Foundation has been on this journey for the last 26 years and our institutions are testament to how education can be a force multiplier, transforming not just individual lives, but those of groups and communities at large. We are, therefore, thrilled to set up a world-class private university in Chennai that has been envisioned with a core raison d’etre of moving beyond disseminating knowledge. Shiv Nadar University Chennai will be a catalyst for new research, novel discoveries and creation of new forms of expression…eventually helping create responsible, well rounded citizens.”
Mr. R Srinivasan, Founding Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University Chennai said, “Shiv Nadar University Chennai comes as a response to the overwhelming persuasion by parents and alumni of our institutions to establish a multidisciplinary university after seeing the quality of education we had to offer through our other institutions of higher education. The University will strongly focus on holistic development of students through an approach that blends academic rigor, culture of research and sustained industry engagement. While we are announcing the University today with two Schools (Engineering and Commerce and Management), our hope is that over the next five years, the University will significantly expand its offerings, including establishing a School of Law. We also want to take this opportunity to invite acclaimed academicians and scientists to join us as we set out on this journey of creating new knowledge and contributing to meeting the human capital needs of the world.”
Dr. Kala Vijayakumar, Pro-Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University Chennai said, “Shiv Nadar University Chennai will offer programs that will prepare students with the skillsets needed in an ever-evolving world. The curriculum has been modeled on global best standards with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research, cutting across all schools, allowing the University to break disciplinary silos and institute a broad-based academic structure. We are thrilled to bring to students a university that will enable them with an enduring foundation for their future success.”
The University will open for admissions in April 2021 with four specialized courses in disciplines of Engineering and Commerce. These programs have been designed in-line with the evolving educational and professional requirements within India and internationally.
- The School of Engineering will offer students a strong engineering orientation through four-year undergraduate courses in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science and Computer Science and Engineering with specialization in Internet of Things (IoT). These programs will inculcate a strong theoretical foundation, systematic professional knowledge as well as powerful practical skills in their respective subjects.
- The School of Commerce and Management will offer curated programs in Bachelor of Commerce (Professional Accounting) preparing students for professional destinations such as CA, CWA, CMA; and a Bachelor of Commerce offering a broad- based academic background in analytical and financial domains, preparing them to solve real world financial issues and problems.
In addition to courses offered in Engineering as well as those offered by the School of Commerce and Management, the University also plans to introduce a four-year undergraduate program in Business Management (BMS) in the following academic year (2022 – 23). Over the next five years, Shiv Nadar University Chennai will continue to introduce new programs and expand its offerings, including establishing a School of Law at the University.
For more information, please visit https://shivnadaruniversitychennai.edu.in/.
About Shiv Nadar University, Chennai
Shiv Nadar University, Chennai (website link) is a research-focused University offering wide-range of specialized academic programs at the undergraduate level. The University has been set up by the Shiv Nadar Foundation, a philanthropic foundation established by Mr. Shiv Nadar, Founder, HCL – a US$ 9.9 billion leading global technology enterprise. The University endeavors to become a pioneering institution of higher education, setting new global academic benchmarks and revolutionizing the education landscape in the country.The University campus features state-of-the-art infrastructure for learning, including seminar halls, auditoria, libraries, gymnasium, a sports complex and hostels for men and women. The campus is entirely wi-fi enabled with 24/7 internet access.
The University offers a holistic educational environment that is continually evolving to bridge the gap between the classroom and global demands by world-class faculty who are progressive academicians, leading thinkers and innovative educators from ranked global universities. The University has commenced its journey towards becoming a globally acclaimed centre for learning and innovation in fields of engineering and commerce and will continue to add diverse disciplines to its repertoire.
Established in 1994, by Shiv Nadar, Founder, HCL – a US$ 9.9 billion leading global technology enterprise, the Foundation is committed to the creation of a more equitable, merit-based society by empowering individuals through transformational education, and to bridge the socio-economic divide. Over the last 26 years the Foundation, has directly touched the lives of over 30,000 alumni and students through its marquee institutions in literacy, K12 and higher education. Today, the Foundation has a community of over 100,000 constituents, which includes not only globally dispersed alumni and students but also faculty members, corporate executives, and extended families.The Foundation has invested ~$1bn in its six landmark institutions and initiatives across education and art. Currently over 12,600 students and over 2,000 faculty are part of the Foundation along with around 19,000 strong globally dispersed alumni community.
The Foundation’s students have gone to study at some of the best institutions globally including the Ivy League in the US and top universities in other countries including Australia, Singapore, China and UK. Students are also working across major corporations, including Goldman Sachs, Honda, HP, Schindler, and several others both in India and across other geographies. Faculty across the Foundation institutions are drawn from the best Indian and international universities, with a strong focus on research and innovation. The Shiv Nadar Foundation pursues the philosophy of ‘Creative Philanthropy’. It is a powerful model which envisages creation of institutions that are built to last and continue to impact future generations. It is an approach that allows sustained institutionalized philanthropy for long-term, high impact, socio-economic transformation.
Profile
Dr. Kala Vijayakumar
Kala is the pro-chancellor of Shiv Nadar University Chennai. Kala has played a key role in managing the SSN Institutions (SSN) in Chennai, from its inception in 1996. With a keen interest in inclusive education, she has made SSN an institution of international repute. Under her leadership, SSN focused on promoting the holistic development of its students. She was instrumental in setting up a special scholarship scheme for the benefit of rural students at SSN.
Kala played a pivotal role in establishing unique collaborations with world renowned universities such as the Carnegie Mellon University, USA, a global top 10 engineering institution. Kala is a university rank holder and has a Master’s degree in Mathematics from the Stella Maris College, Madras University. She holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Liverpool. Her research focuses on bridging economic inequality in India by making higher education accessible to rural, first generation learners.
