Anna University (அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழகம்) is one of India's premier engineering universities. Established in 1978, it offers higher education in Engineering, Technology and Allied Sciences.
Anna University was formed on September 4 1978 as a unitary type of university. It integrated 4 well-known technical institutions in the city of Chennai (previously known as Madras), the oldest of which was the College of Engineering, Guindy, started in 1794. Perarignar Anna University of Technology (PAUT) was the original name used in 1978. In 1982 the current name of Anna University was coined removing the words "Perarignar" and "Technology". In December 2001, it was converted into an affiliating university, with almost all engineering colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu under its fold and also absorbing all the 6 government engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu as its constituent colleges.
It is also ranked tenth (10) by the Outlook India magazine for the year 2007 in the top 50 government engineering colleges in India. Anna University, one of the premier technical institutions in the country, Is committed to ensuring transfer of knowledge of the highest order from teachers to students. The transformation of classroom technology from hardware into software related tools for teaching and learning depends on knowledgeable and dedicated machers who have core-technology competencies and skills. Anna University can proudly boast of such teachers who are very knowledgeable and who serve (lie cause of education with great sincerity and dedication.
The University with its infrastructure facilities existed has started growing and raised to the standards of Higher Education and has worldwide recognition in the field of Engineering, Technology and Applied Sciences.
Considering the excellent growth of Anna University, the Government of Tamil Nadu, during December 2001, have upgraded the University from unitary typo to affiliating type of University by bringing together about 250 Engineering Colleges in the State of Tamil Nadu. Since 13 Feb, 2007 only the colleges situated in the districts of Chennai, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai and Vilupuram in Tamil Nadu State have been affiliated to Anna University. Anna University has under its fold four campuses (CEG, ACT and SAP in the Main Campus and MIT in Chromepet) having departments of Engineering, Technology and Applied sciences, and, under affiliation, about 108 self financing colleges and 1 Government College located in the above districts of Tamil Nadu.
Anna University Chennai has conducted University examinations with the assistance of 10 zonal centers since 2002. About 2,55,000 undergraduate students and 35,000 post graduate students register for semester examinations and the examinations are conducted for 31 US and 70 PG Programmes involving 3,000 subjects. Nearly 2 million answer scripts are valued in 10 zonal centers by 8,000 examiners.
ISRO has permitted Anna University to start a separate TV channel by providing required equipment. The university has established Tamil Nadu’s first Interactive Satellite Terminal under the Ku Band of EDUSAT and identified as one of the channel partners in the Southern region for EDUSAI Live interactive Audio-Video lecture programmes are transmitted through Ku Band and it helps to conduct free examinations in all its affiliated colleges. A Research Center for Nanosciences and Technology has been established by the University. The Government of Tamil Nadu has provided Rs.50.00 lakhs as seed money to establish clean room facility for developing semi-conductor devices.
Anna University Chennai, in collaboration with the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has planned to design core engineering modules which are attractive in thejob market.
Anna University Chennai has created a “Centre for Distance Education” to conduct MCA, MBAand M.Sc. Computer related courses under Distance Education Mode. The IT Companies namely CTS., TCS., Infosys, L&T and HCL have agreed to have a common aptitude test that would rank students on the skill sets required for the industry. The university has proposed to establish a state-of-the-art building in the proposed CT Park in the Guindy Campus and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC),and has agreed to provide infrastructure for its R&D training research centre. HP announced that the university has been awarded a "Technology for teaching” Grant of US $70,000. This grant will be used to establish a Centre for M-learning with the support of HP to engage the faculty to promote the use of mobile and wireless technologies.
• A Digital Knowledge Centre has been inaugurated in the University Library. The Library was upgraded by establishing the infrastructure facilities for Digital Library with the assistance of the student of CEG -79 batches.
• Anna University Chennai conducted a series of “Training the Trainer” Programmes in collaboration with ELCOT and software companies such as Infosys, Wipro, CTS and Scope International under the scheme of “Enhancing the Employability of Students” from the Affiliated Colleges of Anna University Chennai. The objective of this programme was to train teachers to impart communication and soft skills to students more effectively. Nearly 250 teachers were benefited from this programme.
• Anna University Chennai introduced Medical Insurance Scheme to provide health care to all the students and employees of the University. Nearly 6000 students and 1500 staff members are being benefited through this scheme.
• Anna University Chennai is establishing tie-ups with Universities and organizations abroad in order to promote research in technical Education. More than 108 National and 69 International Memorandum of Understanding have been signed so far.
• The UGC has conveyed its approval forthe upgradation of DRS programme in Dept of CSE to the level of DSA (Phase I) for a duration of 5 years, with the financial assistance of Rs.75.00 lakhs.
• The USC has sanctioned Rs.20 lakhs each to three DSA Departments of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering and four DRS Departments of Chemistry, Computer Science Engineering, Biotechnology and Geology for strengthening of infrastructure facilities.
• The USC has conveyed its approval for the upgradation of DSA (Phase Ill) programme in the DEEE to the level of centre for Advanced studies (CAS) for duration of5 years with the financial assistance of Rs.75.00 lakhs for implementing the programme.
• The USC has conveyed its approval for the continuation of the programme at tho level of DRS (Phase II) for a period of 5 years with financial assistance of Rs.46.50 lakhs for the Department of Geology.
• Anna University Chennai laid the foundation Stone for the construction of buildings in the Campus with the support of Alumni Trust for the devlelopnmiil (ii infrastructure for the benefit of students pursuing their education in various departments.
In 1978 the following colleges/schools were taken over by the university as its constituent colleges
In Jan 2001 the following 6 government engineering colleges were also taken over by the university as its constituent colleges
A recent Bill (2007) for taking over these 6 constituent colleges back again as government colleges is pending approval.
In the view to improve the quality of education in southern part of Tamil nadu, the government of Tamil nadu has announced to form one more Anna University at Tirunelveli. Refer item no. 51
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