Vellore Institute of Technology

{{Short description|Private deemed university in Tamil Nadu, India}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Vellore Institute of Technology

| image = Vellore Institute of Technology seal 2017.svg

| image_size = 200px

| image_alt =

| caption = Seal of Vellore Institute of Technology

| latin_name =

| motto = "A Place to Learn, A Chance to Grow"

| closed =

| established = {{Start date and age|1984}}

| type = Private Deemed University

| chancellor = G. Viswanathan

| vice_chancellor = Dr. V. S. Kanchana Bhaaskaran

| students = 2,00,000+ (All VIT Campuses)

| city = Vellore

| state = Tamil Nadu

| postalcode =

| country = India

| coordinates = {{coord|12.969193|N|79.155968|E|display=inline,title}}

| campus = Urban

| campus_size = {{convert|372|acre}}

| other_name = VIT University

| former_names = Vellore Engineering College

| website = {{URL|www.vit.ac.in}}

| founder = G. Viswanathan

| colors = {{color box|#2E3191}} {{color box|White}} Blue and White

| nickname = VITians

| mascot =

| affiliations = UGC

| logo = Vellore_Institute_of_Technology_logo.svg

| logo_size = 300px

| logo_upright = 1.2

}}

File:Technology Tower(VIT).jpg

File:VIT Library.jpg

Vellore Institute of Technology or VIT is a private deemed university{{cite web|url=https://www.ugc.ac.in/deemeduniversitylist.aspx?id=ELvvTRQMzalJ3/R/MmUcsQ==&Unitype=Jc2qxh2PCqffjt5wPbleBA==|title=Deemed University Tamil Nadu|publisher=University Grants Commission (India)|access-date=2 January 2020}}{{Cite web |title=MoE, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/2022/ResearchRanking.html |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=www.nirfindia.org}} in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

The institution offers 66 Undergraduate, 58 Postgraduate, 15 Integrated, 2 Research and 2 M.Tech. Industrial Programmes.{{Cite web|last=University|first=V. I. T.|title=Admission|url=https://vit.ac.in/admissions/overview|access-date=2020-12-12|website=Admission{{!}} VIT|language=en}} It has campuses in Vellore and Chennai and three sister universities as distinct state private universities in Amaravati,{{Cite web |title=Welcome to UGC, New Delhi, India |url=https://www.ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/Private_university_other?id=959 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=www.ugc.gov.in}} Bhopal,{{Cite web |title=Welcome to UGC, New Delhi, India |url=https://www.ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/Private_university_other?id=932 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=www.ugc.gov.in}} Bengaluru{{Cite web|title=About VIT-Bangalore|url=https://vitbangalore.in/about/|access-date=2023-06-24}} in India and an international campus in Mauritius.{{Cite web |title=VIT Mauritius |url=https://www.vitmauritius.mu/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |language=en-GB}}

History

VIT was founded in 1984 as Vellore Engineering College, as a self-financing engineering college under Anna University by its founder G. Viswanathan.{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-02-19 |title=Centre, State should allocate more funds for education, health: VIT founder-chancellor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/centre-state-should-allocate-more-funds-for-education-health-vit-founder-chancellor/article67863623.ece |access-date=2024-05-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} In 2001, It became Deemed university.{{Cite web |last=Technology |first=Vellore Institute of |title=About Vit |url=https://vit.ac.in/about-vit |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=About Vit {{!}} VIT |language=English}}

Administration and Organization

The university has board of management, academic council and Finance committee. G. Viswanathan is the founder-chancellor of VIT and all its sister universities.{{Cite web |last=AdminVit |date=2020-06-24 |title=Governance {{!}} VIT |url=https://vit.ac.in/governance |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=governance {{!}} VIT |language=en}} The campus spans over 372 acres.{{Cite web |last=Contentuser |date=2018-11-01 |title=Infrastructure |url=https://vit.ac.in/infrastructure |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Infrastructure {{!}} VIT |language=en}}

Academics and research

VIT's academic disciplines is divided into 20 Schools of Study in its Vellore and Chennai campus.{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/VITs-Law-School-Launched/2014/08/06/article2366045.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222164903/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/VITs-Law-School-Launched/2014/08/06/article2366045.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 December 2014 | title=VIT's Law School Launched}}{{Cite web|title=Life at VIT Chennai {{!}} VITEEE 2020 {{!}} Vellore Institute of Technology {{!}} Life at VIT - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4J0ocDLVVE&feature=youtu.be|access-date=2020-07-15|website=www.youtube.com| date=10 November 2016 }}

VIT implements the Fully Flexible Credit System (FFCS) which gives the students the freedom to choose and make their own timetables by choosing the subjects and faculties for the next semester.

33 Professors of VIT are among the top 2% of scientists in the world, as shown in a survey conducted by Stanford University, USA in 2021.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=VIT University |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/vit-university |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}

Rankings

{{Infobox India university ranking

| type = University and Institute

| ARWU_W_2022 = 601–700

| QS_A_2023 = 173

| THE_W_2023 = 801–1000

| THES_A_2022 = 251–300

|QS_W_2025=791-800| THES_E_2022 = 301–350

}}

Internationally, VIT was ranked 1001–1200 in the QS World University Rankings of 2023 and 173 in Asia. It was ranked 801–1000 in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2023, 251–300 in Asia in 2022 and 301–350 among emerging economies. It was ranked 601–700 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities of 2022.

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the MoE ranked VIT 19th overall in India in 2024, 10th among universities and 11th among Engineering institutes.{{Cite web |title=NIRF 2024 |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/nirfpdfcdn/2024/pdf/Report/IR2024_Report.pdf}}

VIT was ranked first among private engineering colleges in India by Outlook India in 2022. India Today ranked it 20 among engineering colleges in 2020.

Accreditation

VIT has been accredited with the following:

A++ grade by NAAC, it has completed 4 cycles of accreditation and is going for the 5th cycle.{{Cite web|title=University|url=https://assessmentonline.naac.gov.in/public/index.php/iiqa_report/eyJpdiI6IkpmaW1GdGFmZk0xeFhZaTBabDRCdEE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoicVhTYnY2algrM0M0aEFCcmRwUVB6QT09IiwibWFjIjoiNWE4MjU2NDliZjUwMTdkNzViYjFkNTVkZTgxNDAzNTk2NzY3YzdiZWJiNjA3NThlMGFkNmQ4ZDZjYTJjMzc0MyJ9}}
It is preparing for the third round of accreditation by the NBA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbaind.org/accreditationprogram/AccreditedProgram?ID=/L+fxyhb6EPZUvjtT2wypA==&name=60b06RPPuXIuQ+VQx+usVKFuuPjt8csmoZ1A+TgAoSyESafutiTaa+8qf3UL6PmpKtGsCKMibibdpMlzRMRUbgKKi5drhIL/7JX4C9+McAk=|title=National Board of Accreditation|website=www.nbaind.org}}
It is accredited by the International accrediting agency ABET.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/education/Why-private-universities-go-for-international-accreditation/article15592928.ece|title=Why private universities go for international accreditation|newspaper=The Hindu|date=14 December 2010|last1=Krishnamoorthy|first1=R.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2012/feb/23/vit-programmes-gets-abet-accreditation-342739.html|title = VIT programmes gets ABET accreditation| date=16 May 2012 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/vit-programmes-gets-abet-accreditation-449302.html|title=VIT programmes gets ABET accreditation|date=23 February 2012}}
ACBSP has accredited the VIT Business School.{{cite web | url=https://acbsp.org/news/384496/VIT-Business-School-Accredited-with-ACBSP-Global-Business-Accreditation.htm | title=VIT Business School Accredited with ACBSP Global Business Accreditation - Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs }}
ACCA has accredited the BBA program.{{Cite web|url=https://www.accaglobal.com/in/en/qualifications/why-acca/university-partnerships.html|title = University Partnerships in India | ACCA Global}}

Culture and Fests

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Campus !! Cultural & Sports !! Technical
Vellore	Riviera	GraVITas
Chennai	Vibrance	technoVIT
Bhopal	Aarambh	AdVITya
Andhra Pradesh \|Vitopia \|VTAPP

Controversies

In October 2013, two female students were suspended after they helped organize an online opinion survey of female VIT students, focusing on issues of safety and inequality.{{Cite news |last=Venugopal |first=Vasudha |date=2013-10-11 |title=Two VIT students sent home for dissent |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/two-vit-students-sent-home-for-dissent/article5222323.ece |access-date=2021-04-17 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} Commenting on the issue, VIT vice president Sekar Viswanathan said: "The students started a campaign based on the misplaced notion that the university discriminates against women, which is false. They were taken home by their parents". An American professor who was working at the institute at the time was reportedly fired for supporting the two dismissed students via a Change.org petition. Reports citing students, rules require male and female students at VIT to live in strictly segregated facilities, in addition to imposing restrictions upon the women that the men are not burdened by."{{cite news |last1=Ghosh |first1=Palash |title=VIT: A Case Of Blatant Gender Discrimination At A Top Indian Engineering School |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/vit-case-blatant-gender-discrimination-top-indian-engineering-school-1462288 |access-date=17 September 2024 |agency=International Business Times |date=9 November 2013}}

In March 2024, VIT organized an athletic event to promote gender equality. However, there was a social media outrage because the college initially asked men to run 10 kilometers and women to run 5 kilometers.{{cite web |last1=Macpherson |first1=James |title=Run for Gender Equality Proves the Opposite |url=https://jamesmacpherson.substack.com/p/run-for-gender-equality-proves-the |website=The James Macpherson Report |publisher=Substack |access-date=17 September 2024}} The event poster was later redesigned.

In July 2022, the Madhya Pradesh government initiated an inquiry into Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Sehore after allegations that the institute fined students for reciting the Hanuman Chalisa in their hostel. The students reportedly recited the prayer to protest poor amenities in the hostel, but complaints from security staff and noise concerns led to fines for seven students. MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra condemned the fines, ordering that they be revoked and instructing the Sehore collector to investigate. The incident sparked political reactions, with BJP legislator Rameshwar Sharma threatening further protests if the fines were not withdrawn.{{Cite news |date=2022-07-09 |title=Students fined for reciting Hanuman Chalisa, MP govt intervenes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/students-fined-for-reciting-chalisa-mp-govt-intervenes/articleshow/92758651.cms |access-date=2024-11-14 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |date=2022-07-09 |title=MP Govt orders probe after VIT Bhopal imposes fine on students for reciting Hanuman Chalisa in hostel |url=https://news.careers360.com/madhya-pradesh-govt-orders-probe-after-vit-bhopal-imposes-fine-on-students-for-reciting-hanuman-chalisa-in-hostel |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Careers360 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=VIT imposes fine on students for reciting Hanuman Chalisa, MP govt orders probe |url=https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2022/7/9/VIT-imposes-fine-on-students-for-reciting-Hanuman-Chalisa-MP-govt-orders-probe.html |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=www.newsbharati.com |language=en}}

In November 2024, The Madhya Pradesh government has launched an investigation into disciplinary actions taken by VIT-Bhopal after complaints from ABVP, which alleged unjust punishments for students involved in a social media controversy. A probe committee will review allegations related to the disciplinary measures, course and fee structures, and other campus issues. VIT-Bhopal has defended its actions, asserting the right to manage internal affairs and criticizing external interference. Academic experts have questioned the commission’s characterization of VIT as "dictatorial" prior to completing the investigation.{{Cite news |date=2024-11-08 |title=MP govt orders probe into VIT row after ABVP complaint |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/probe-launched-into-vit-bhopal-controversy-amid-abvp-complaints/articleshow/115093907.cms |access-date=2024-11-14 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

The social controversy at VIT-Bhopal began with rumors of a viral video purportedly showing female students bathing in a hostel. Although the existence of such a video was unconfirmed, these rumors spread among students, leading to unrest on campus. Some students were disciplined by the university, which allegedly included suspensions lasting from six months to a year. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization, claimed that VIT penalized the students without a proper investigation and demanded further inquiries into the university’s handling of course-related matters, fee structure, and other campus issues.

Notable alumni

Soumith Chintala,{{Cite web|last=Chintala |first=Soumith |title=Soumith on LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/soumith |website=LinkedIn |access-date=2024-11-06}} lead creator and maintainer of PyTorch, a software framework for deep learning in artificial intelligence
Utkarsh Dwivedi, IAS, Rank 5 in the UPSC"[https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/vit-alumnus-utkarsh-dwivedi-all-india-5th-rank-upsc-civil-services-examinations/article65539335.ece VIT alumnus secures All India 5th rank in UPSC civil services examinations]"
Atulya Kaushik, co-founder and CEO, PrepInsta Prime {{Cite web |last=Chintapali |first=Rohit |title=Democratising Learning |url=http://businessworld.inhttps//www.businessworld.in/article/Democratising-Learning/20-09-2022-447390 |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=BW Businessworld |language=en}}
Papias Malimba Musafiri, Rwandan Minister of Education{{Cite web|url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/190052|title=Musafiri appointed as new Education minister|date=2015-06-25|website=The New Times|access-date=2019-09-28}}
Bindu Madhavi{{cite news |last1=Rao |first1=Subha J. |title=What's in a name? Quite a lot! |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/indu-madhavi-on-being-part-of-films-with-unusual-titles-and-her-latest-tamizhukku-en-ondrai-azhuthavum/article6435466.ece |access-date=13 December 2017 |work=The Hindu |date=22 September 2014 |language=en-IN}}
Anand Prakash, Indian ethical hacker{{cite news |title=Hackers for good: How Anand Prakash rescued Facebook |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Passcode/Security-culture/2016/1003/Hackers-for-good-How-Anand-Prakash-rescued-Facebook |access-date=3 May 2024 |work=Christian Science Monitor}}
Kaveri Priyam
Poornima Ravi, Actress and YouTuber
Indhuja Ravichandran, a Model and Actress
Dhyan SreenivasanSathyendran, Nita (16 September 2015) "[https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/actor-dhyan-sreenivasan-on-his-tryst-with-mollywood/article7659299.ece Chip off the old block]", The Hindu. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
Shubhangi Swaroop, first female pilot in Indian Navy"[https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/270118/illustrious-alumni-of-vellore-institute-of-technology-felicitated.html Illustrious alumni of Vellore Institute of Technology felicitated]" (27 January 2018), Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 24 September 2020.