Vels University Chennai

 Dr Ishari K Ganesh, the Chairman of Vels Group of Institutions and Chancellor of Vels University, has a contrarian’s approach to education. He believes that the very essence of education is to ‘draw out’ rather than to just ‘pour in’ knowledge through mindless hours of lectures in the classroom. In effect, the curriculum and the pedagogy at Vels lay emphasis on practical training and contemporary relevance. Vels Group of Institutions is spread across three sprawling campuses in the city of Chennai. Enclosed between the scenic Pallavaram Hills on one side and lush green fields on the other, the university campus houses the head office of The Vaels Educational Trust. Established in September 2008, Vels University is the latest in a list of educational institutions in Chennai and stands out for its distinctive approach.

Foresight has helped the university’s growth over the past few months. When the demand for pharmacy education started growing in 1992, it started Vels College of Pharmacy in a rented place in Mylapore with just 22 students. Seven years later, Vels School of Maritime Studies was established, the first institution in the private sector to offer the course in India, with the USP of its own ship to impart training.

With a motto of ‘knowledge is power’, the university sees education as just one aspect of individual development, and aims for the all round growth of its students. Modern teaching aids, e-library, sports and recreational facilities are directed at improving the social and physical growth of its students.

The quest to impart wider education was not restricted to disciplines alone, but also across generations; when the group decided to get involved in the education of school and pre-school children as well.  An alumnus of Madras & Madurai Kamraj University, Dr Ganesh, who was cited as one of the 50 leaders redefining Indian education by Education World in November 2008, is determined in his efforts that Vels shall not just be known by its scope, but by its quality too. The university has put in place a Quality Assurance System to monitor and improve the quality of education. Infrastructure is an important yardstick in the assessment of quality, and Vels ensures the right infrastructure for all courses.

With a motto of ‘knowledge is power’, the university sees education as just one aspect of individual development, and aims for the all round growth of its students. Modern teaching aids, e-library, sports and recreational facilities are directed at improving the social and physical growth of its students. Dr Ganesh sees a more important role for Vels in the development of the country and the youth. “Our vision is to participate in the establishment of vibrant and modern India where the youth will be free from illiteracy and unemployment,” he says. “They will be internationally competitive and fit into knowledge based societies with discipline, a national outlook and religious tolerance.” 

Vels will soon set up an offshore campus and is working on developing video conferencing between students and professors around the world.

The Vels Vidyashram School and the Vaels Billabong High International School not only showcase the involvement of the Vels Group in school education, but also its ability to cater to different social sectors. The Billabong High with its Australian connections sets standards for international education. Its world-class infrastructure and state-of-the art facilities help children to be innovative and accountable.