Vignan University, the first Deemed University of its kind, promoted by a reputed corporate house in education Vignan, was approved by the Human Resource Department of the Government of India, on the recommendation by the University Grants Commission.

The university campus was set up at Vadlamudi on Guntur-Tenali highway in Guntur district, 14 km away from Guntur in 1997 in the premises of Vignan’s Engineering College and the Vignan Institute of Information Technology at Visakhapatnam came into existence during the academic year 2001-2002. Deemed university status was conferred on the Vignan Engineering College recently. Vignan, which has three decades of distinguished track record in education, has initiated a revolutionary trend in higher education when for the first time in the state, it started a residential college in Vadlamudi for Intermediate students and became trendsetter in the early 80s.

Vignan entered technical education in 1997  by establishing its first and flagship technical institute Vignan’s Engineering College at Vadlamudi. Today, there are seven more engineering Colleges and three pharmacy colleges, besides fifteen schools and seven junior colleges across Andhra Pradesh. The Vignan group today caters to all the layers of education from Schooling to Technical Education and Post Graduation with total student strength of about  40,000.

Again, Vignan has now undertaken a new initiative by securing the status of Deemed University, its first Engineering College now turning into a University. 

Today more than 600 students from the State make it to the IITs apart from another 400 in the top 1000 ranks of All India Engineering Entrance Exam from Andhra Pradesh. Many from the state make it to the selections in UPSC. Today the state is known all over the world for its skilled manpower in IT, Pharma and Biotech Industries. Andhra Pradesh today is looked upon as the happening State in the country.

Keeping in view the growing demand for technical and management education, the Vignan University is aiming at providing technological leaders with management inputs with global standards.

The founder of Vignan Group of Educational Institutions and Chancellor of the new Deemed Univeristy, Vignan University, Dr. Lavu Rathaiah speaks to ‘The Career Guide’ about the unique features of the Vignan University.

TCG : What is vision of the Vignan University?

Dr Lavu Rathaiah : To evolve into a centre of excellence in Science and Technology through creative and innovative practices in teaching-learning, promoting academic achievement and research excellence to produce internationally accepted, competitive and world class professionals who are psychologically strong and emotionally balanced imbued with social consciousness and ethical values.

TCG: What is Vignan’s mission?

DLR: To provide high quality academic programs, training activities, research facilities and opportunities supported by continuous industry-institute interaction aimed at promoting employability, entrepreneurship, leadership and research aptitude among students and contribute to the economic and technological development of the region, state and nation.

TCG: Why you need a separate university to reach your mission?

DLR: University status provides us flexibility. We are free to design our courses in tune with trends world over. We can select our students based on merit. So far, Vignan institutions have spread across Andhra Pradesh. Now we can expand our activity to other states also.

TCG: What are the basic changes you are proposing in designing the courses?

DLR: Conventional engineering students are not having hands-on experience. Like doctors getting experiences before completion of their course during house surgeon period, engineering students also will be provided industry work experience before completion of their degree.
To fill up this gap, we are formulating courses with Industrial Cooperation. Many MoUs are
underway with a number of industries for establishing Incubation centres wherein the chosen students of 3rd and 4th year will be trained in simulated and live work environments so they will be ready for absorption by the Industry by the time they complete their course.

TCG: Would there be any changes in content of syllabus?

DLR: Certainly, there would be a lot of changes. With 40 to 50 per cent of engineering graduates opting for management courses after completion of their course and going for MBA, we are intending to give management inputs in  B Tech course itself. By the time of completion of engineering degree, student would complete 60 to 70 percent of management inputs.

TCG: Are you focusing on Civil Services also?

DLR: Certainly. To facilitate those who are with an ambition to get into the coveted services like IAS, IPS and other Civil Services, optional subjects suitable for Civil Service exams of UPSC are offered from 2nd year itself. We are also proposing to provide foreign languages like French, German and Chinese as optional subjects so that students can fare well at global level too.

TCG: Why is only one engineering college made part of the new university?

DLR: Though in the first year, our Vadlamudi campus is getting the status of Deemed Univeristy, slowly, we will add all our engineering colleges as part of the new university within a period of two years.

TCG: When will the admissions be started?

DLR: The process of admissions into the Deemed University will start in the second week of April through nation-wide online entrance test. Five students from every state, who secure highest marks will be awarded 100 per cent scholarship in the university. About 1,000 students who fare well at AIEEE and EAMCET examinations also will be provided 25 to 50 per cent fee remissions. First five rankers in Intermediate will also be provided free education.

TCG: Who will be the Vice Chancellor of the university?

DLR: We are considering four names for this position and a decision will be taken soon.

TCG: Are you planning to provide international exposure to the students?

DLR: We are in the process of reaching MoUs with reputed foreign universities. Already negotiations have been completed with three universities from UK, Canada and US and negotiations are going on with some other universities.

We can directly copy some of the courses from reputed universities of the world so as to enable our students to study same courses here with same global standards.

TCG: Any plans to upgrade existing courses?

DLR: We are particularly proposing to upgrade Chemical Engineering and Bio-Technology courses. B.Tech in chemical engineering is designed to address the concerns of the upcoming huge petro-complexes and refineries to gas based energy plans, chemical, bulk drug and Pharma industries, Research and Development labs for development of new molecules and materials.

Likewise, M.Tech program is so designed that the student can master and pursue research doctoral study in a wide range of study. B.Tech program in Biotechnology is imparting knowledge with the latest developments in Bio sciences, Health care, drug discovery, Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical sectors, therapeutics and diagnostic areas.

The Courses available in the college include :

Computer Science & Engineering
Electronics & Communication Engineering
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Instrumentation & Control Engineering

Vignan Institute of Technology & Science
Vignan Hills, Deshmukhi Village,
Pochampally Mandal, Nalgonda District
Andhra Pradesh – 508284

Ph. No. : 08685-226133, 34, 35, 37

From Hyderabad : 916-226133, 34, 35, 37

Email : mailto:info@vignanits.ac.in

Courses offered by Vignan University

Engineering
Undergraduate Courses : B Tech - Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electronic & Communication Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Information Technology and Mechanical Engineering.

Post Graduate Courses: M Tech – Computer Science Engineering, Power Electronics & Drives, Chemical Engineering and Machine Design.

Management: MBA, MCA