Vidya Academy of Science and Technology
Encyclopedia
Vidya Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), also known as Vidya Engineering College or Vidya College or simply Vidya, is a private
self-financing engineering college
in Thrissur District
in Kerala
. The college is located in a 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) rural
campus situated nearly half-way between Guruvayoor and Thrissur City
, the district headquarters. The college offers B Tech
courses in six branches of engineering - Civil
, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics
, Electronics and Communication
, Mechanical
, and Production
-and also the post-graduate course of MCA
.
The college was established and is administered by Vidya International Charitable Trust (VICT), a registered body formed by more than a thousand non-resident Keralites
mostly based in the Arab Gulf states.
VAST meets the Kerala guidelines for new colleges control especially in matters of admissions and fee structure. A substantial number of students hold scholarships instituted by the management. The college has implemented the AICTE Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme for promoting technical education for women, handicapped and weaker sections of the society.
courses in four branches of engineering, namely Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Communication, and Mechanical.
From 2006 the college began to offer B Tech programmes in Civil Engineering and Production Engineering. In the same year the postgraduate programme of Master of Computer Applications
(MCA) was started. There are around 1900 students and 112 faculty members.
, approved by the All India Council for Technical Education
and recognized by the Government of Kerala
(see External links below). It has also secured ISO 9001:2000 certification.
programme.
(MoU) with State University of New York at New Paltz
providing for a twinning programme arrangement.
, are subscribed. The global e-journal literature relating to engineering and technology can be accessed through J-Gate. There is a collection of Educational software
in the library. The full set of web courses prepared by NPTEL
(a joint initiative of the IITs
and the IISc) is available through the intranet of the college.
In addition, there are active student chapters of Computer Society of India
, ISTE and Institution of Engineers (India)
, and also of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
in the college.
A CAD/CAM lab is equipped with CNC machines and professional software.
The student-computer ratio in the campus is nearly 3:1. Even though the college promotes free software products, major proprietary software packages are available.
There are separate hostels for boys and girls on the campus.
(NSS) in the college.
from the rank list prepared based on the Common Entrance Examination conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations and fifty percent of the students are selected by the management from a list prepared by them.
, and Mr. Sunny Varkey, founder of GEMS Education, a consortium of educational institutions in India, the Middle East and Europe, awards nearly 100 scholarships. http://www.vidyaacademy.ac.in/newvidya/scholarship2.html (Retrieved on 13 July 2008).
in December 2000, is the promoter of the College. Under the provisions of the trust deed of Vidya International Charitable Trust, the Board of Trustees is the custodian of the Trust and all its properties. The Board of Trustees vests the management and control of Vidya Academy of Science and Technology and other ventures of the Trust on an Executive Committee of eleven Trustees elected from the Board of Trustees. An Advisory Board guides the development of the College. A Steering Committee directs the day-to-day functioning of the college. There is also an Academic Council to provide leadership to the academic activities in the college. The Chief Patron of the Trust is P. K. Asokan; the chairman is K. Muraleedharan.).
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
self-financing engineering college
Engineering college
Engineering colleges generally refer to institutes of higher education which offer an engineering course at degree level. The duration of the course is four to five years depending upon the university to which the college is affiliated. The students learn little of basic science concentrating...
in Thrissur District
Thrissur district
Thrissur is a revenue district of Kerala situated in the central part of that state. Spanning an area of about 3,032 km2, Thrissur district is home to over 10% of Kerala’s population. Thrissur district was formed on July 1, 1949, with the headquarters at Thrissur City. Thrissur is known as...
in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The college is located in a 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
campus situated nearly half-way between Guruvayoor and Thrissur City
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
, the district headquarters. The college offers B Tech
Bachelor of Technology
The Bachelor of Technology is an undergraduate academic degree conferred after completion of a three or four year program of studies at an accredited university or accredited university-level institution...
courses in six branches of engineering - Civil
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, Electronics and Communication
Electronic engineering
Electronics engineering, also referred to as electronic engineering, is an engineering discipline where non-linear and active electrical components such as electron tubes, and semiconductor devices, especially transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, are utilized to design electronic...
, Mechanical
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, and Production
Production engineering
Production engineering is a combination of manufacturing technology with management science. A production engineer typically has a wide knowledge of engineering practices and is aware of the management challenges related to production...
-and also the post-graduate course of MCA
Master of Computer Applications
The Master of Computer Applications is a postgraduate degree in computer application streams awarded in India. Full time MCA programmes normally take three academic years. The primary emphasis in MCA curriculum is on the development of diverse types of application software rather than designing...
.
The college was established and is administered by Vidya International Charitable Trust (VICT), a registered body formed by more than a thousand non-resident Keralites
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
mostly based in the Arab Gulf states.
VAST meets the Kerala guidelines for new colleges control especially in matters of admissions and fee structure. A substantial number of students hold scholarships instituted by the management. The college has implemented the AICTE Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme for promoting technical education for women, handicapped and weaker sections of the society.
History
The college started functioning in August 2003 offering B TechBachelor of Technology
The Bachelor of Technology is an undergraduate academic degree conferred after completion of a three or four year program of studies at an accredited university or accredited university-level institution...
courses in four branches of engineering, namely Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Communication, and Mechanical.
From 2006 the college began to offer B Tech programmes in Civil Engineering and Production Engineering. In the same year the postgraduate programme of Master of Computer Applications
Master of Computer Applications
The Master of Computer Applications is a postgraduate degree in computer application streams awarded in India. Full time MCA programmes normally take three academic years. The primary emphasis in MCA curriculum is on the development of diverse types of application software rather than designing...
(MCA) was started. There are around 1900 students and 112 faculty members.
Certifications
The college is affiliated to the University of CalicutUniversity of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...
, approved by the All India Council for Technical Education
All India Council for Technical Education
The All India Council for Technical Education is the statutory body and a national-level council for technical education, under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development...
and recognized by the Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
(see External links below). It has also secured ISO 9001:2000 certification.
Departments and courses
The college has seven engineering departments (including the Department of Computer Applications) and three allied departments. The College runs six B Tech programmes and the MCAMaster of Computer Applications
The Master of Computer Applications is a postgraduate degree in computer application streams awarded in India. Full time MCA programmes normally take three academic years. The primary emphasis in MCA curriculum is on the development of diverse types of application software rather than designing...
programme.
Engineering departments
- Department of Civil Engineering
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering
- Department of Computer Applications
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Department of Production Engineering
Allied departments
- Department of Applied Sciences
- Department of HumanitiesHumanitiesThe humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
- Department of Training and Placement
Twinning Programme
VIDYA has signed a memorandum of understandingMemorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
(MoU) with State University of New York at New Paltz
State University of New York at New Paltz
The State University of New York at New Paltz, known as SUNY New Paltz for short, is a public university in New Paltz, New York. It was founded in 1828 as the School for teaching of classics. In 1885, the New Paltz Normal and Training School was established as a school to prepare teachers for the...
providing for a twinning programme arrangement.
Library
The college library houses a collection of more than 13000 books in branches of engineering, technology and basic sciences. National and international journals, including e-journalsElectronic journal
Electronic journals, also known as ejournals, e-journals, and electronic serials, are scholarly journals or intellectual magazines that can be accessed via electronic transmission. In practice, this means that they are usually published on the Web...
, are subscribed. The global e-journal literature relating to engineering and technology can be accessed through J-Gate. There is a collection of Educational software
Educational software
Educational software is computer software, the primary purpose of which is teaching or self-learning.-Early History, 1940s - 1970s:The use of computer hardware and software in education and training dates to the early 1940s, when American researchers developed flight simulators which used analog...
in the library. The full set of web courses prepared by NPTEL
NPTEL
The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning is a Government of India sponsored collaborative educational programme. By developing curriculum-based video and web courses the programme aims to enhance the quality of engineering education in India...
(a joint initiative of the IITs
Indian Institutes of Technology
The Indian Institutes of Technology are a group of autonomous engineering and technology-oriented institutes of higher education. The IITs are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 which has declared them as “institutions of national importance”, and lays down their powers, duties,...
and the IISc) is available through the intranet of the college.
Research and allied activities
The college has a forum in the form of Research Development Extension and Consultancy Cell (RDEC Cell) for promoting research and allied activities. The infrastructure facilities of the college are utilized for formulating and implementing research projects. The laboratories provide the testing facilities.Institutional memberships
The College has institutional memberships in the following professional associations:- Computer Society of India (CSI)Computer Society of IndiaThe Computer Society of India is the first and the largest body of computer professionals in India. It was started on 6 March 1965 by a handful of computer professionals and has now grown to be the national body representing computer professionals...
- Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE)
- Institution of Engineers (India)Institution of EngineersThe Institution of Engineers is the national organization of engineering professionals in India. IEI has over 0.5 million members from 15 engineering disciplines in 99 centres/chapters in India and overseas; it is the largest multi-disciplinary engineering professional society in the...
- Nano Science and Technology Consortium
In addition, there are active student chapters of Computer Society of India
Computer Society of India
The Computer Society of India is the first and the largest body of computer professionals in India. It was started on 6 March 1965 by a handful of computer professionals and has now grown to be the national body representing computer professionals...
, ISTE and Institution of Engineers (India)
Institution of Engineers
The Institution of Engineers is the national organization of engineering professionals in India. IEI has over 0.5 million members from 15 engineering disciplines in 99 centres/chapters in India and overseas; it is the largest multi-disciplinary engineering professional society in the...
, and also of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
in the college.
Academic tie-ups
The college has academic tie-ups with these IT industries.- Infosys Technologies LimitedInfosysInfosys Limited, formerly Infosys Technologies Limited is a global technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. It is the second largest IT exporter in India with 133,560 employees as of March 2011. It has offices in 33 countries and development centers in India, China,...
through their Campus-Connect programme - Tata Consultancy Services Limited
- Cisco SystemsCisco SystemsCisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
through the Cisco Networking Academy at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
Physical infrastructure
Only the Central Block of the present college buildings had been completed when the college started functioning. The South Block was added in 2007 and the North Block in 2008.A CAD/CAM lab is equipped with CNC machines and professional software.
The student-computer ratio in the campus is nearly 3:1. Even though the college promotes free software products, major proprietary software packages are available.
There are separate hostels for boys and girls on the campus.
Vidya Student Support Cell (VSSC)
The Vidya Student Support Cell is a forum, initiated by the management, to provide additional academic as well as emotional support to needy students. The Cell coordinates and monitors the effective implementation of the ‘group tutor system’ whereby groups of thirty students each are put under the patronage of a faculty member designated as the ‘group tutor’. Every group tutor interacts with the students on a regular basis. The cell arranges training programs for the prospective as well as serving group tutors periodically. The cell has organized an Orientation Programme for the benefit of students who have just completed higher secondary course and who are aspiring to a career in engineering.National Service Scheme
There are two units of the National Service SchemeNational Service Scheme
National Service Scheme ' is an Indian government-sponsored program under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. It was started in 1969.-History:...
(NSS) in the college.
Placements
There is a placement cell under the supervision of a Placement Officer. During the first year of its operation, a large number of students were placed in major companies. In order to enhance their employability, the students are trained in Turning Point programme. This is a programme to develop the students confidence, making them comfortable while facing the public, in interviews, and in group discussions.Admissions
For both B. Tech and MCA programmes, fifty percent of the students are selected by the Government of KeralaGovernment of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
from the rank list prepared based on the Common Entrance Examination conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations and fifty percent of the students are selected by the management from a list prepared by them.
Scholarships
As part of its philanthropic activity, the Vidya International Charitable Trust, in co-operation with Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, and Mr. Sunny Varkey, founder of GEMS Education, a consortium of educational institutions in India, the Middle East and Europe, awards nearly 100 scholarships. http://www.vidyaacademy.ac.in/newvidya/scholarship2.html (Retrieved on 13 July 2008).
Administration
Vidya International Charitable Trust, a non-profit charitable trust formed by a group of non-resident Indians and registered at ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
in December 2000, is the promoter of the College. Under the provisions of the trust deed of Vidya International Charitable Trust, the Board of Trustees is the custodian of the Trust and all its properties. The Board of Trustees vests the management and control of Vidya Academy of Science and Technology and other ventures of the Trust on an Executive Committee of eleven Trustees elected from the Board of Trustees. An Advisory Board guides the development of the College. A Steering Committee directs the day-to-day functioning of the college. There is also an Academic Council to provide leadership to the academic activities in the college. The Chief Patron of the Trust is P. K. Asokan; the chairman is K. Muraleedharan.).