The Hindu Business Line : Alagappa University, CECRI: Excellence in education, research

ALAGAPPA University, in the industrially backward district of Sivaganaga in Tamil Nadu, was established in 1985 at Karaikudi, with a `vision to excel in all spheres of education'. Born out of the philanthropic attitude of Dr R.M. Alagappa Chettiar, the university is located on a sprawling 440 acres of lush green campus donated by him in the town.

It was a unitary university to start with. It turned into an affiliating type in 2002. It has 14 full- fledged departments with two constituent colleges and 23 affiliated colleges and four evening colleges located in the districts of Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram. Choice based credit system (CBCS) is in operation at the PG and M. Phil levels from the year 2004-05.

Computer training has been made compulsory for all the students. To widen the scope for more employment opportunities, courses on foreign languages like Chinese, French, Germany etc. are offered. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India (NAAC) have accredited it with `A' Grade.

Performing university

Research has emerged as a strong point of the university, with 95 per cent of the faculty involved. The works enjoy significant citation index and impact factor. Each teacher in the university has a project worth Rs 10 lakhs.

In a span of 20 years since its inception, 487 scholars have obtained their Ph.Ds. The Department of Industrial Chemistry alone is credited with 15 Indian patents, four world patents and five from US. The total funding for research at present from various national bodies amounted to Rs 5 crore.

"Every month a meeting of HoDs is called to assess the progress in research in each department. The purpose is to collectively collaborate in strengthening and sustaining the process of research culture within the university, as knowledge is capital and necessary for innovation and development," according to Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Kanniappan. The university has earned commendation from the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a `performing university', he said while speaking to Business Line. The Vice-Chancellor, a mathematician, leads by example with a theory named after him and known as ` Dr. Kanniappan's Lemma Theory'.

Unique feature

A unique feature of the university is its Village Placement Programme (VPP) under CBCS for post-graduate students, both arts and science, under which the students are obliged to spend a week in the villages to know and realise the rural conditions first hand. Dr Kanniappan said, "The experience would help ignite in some a spirit to serve the rural community and come with viable solutions to their problems. Not all students in the university come from rural areas and a good number come from other States too."

CECRI

As one enters the Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) campus at Karaikudi, studded with solar lights and steps into the main building, a life-size portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, holding a danda greets you, with his characteristic smile. Seen from any angle, he would be seen looking into you, with his feet turned towards you, perhaps he is watchful, one should believe so. The institution is the expression of a resolve to build a new, modern and industrialised India by an exemplary combination of eminent people with patriotic devotion, Pandit Jawaharla Nehru, Dr R.M. Alagappa Chettiar and Dr Shanthi Swarup Bhatnagar.

Strength of CECRI

Founded in 1948, CECRI is one of the chains of 38 national laboratories under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in the country. Spread over 300 acres of land donated by Dr Chettiar, the laboratory occupies a space of 4,00,000 square feet. 153 scientists are at work at present. It has developed a strong R&D base with all modern and sophisticated instruments for research, one would tire if listed, in the areas of Corrosion Science and Engineering, Industrial Metal Finishing, Electrochemical Power Sources, Electrohydrometallurgy, Electropyrometallurgy, Electrochemicals, Electrodics and Electrocatalysis, Electrochemical Material Science, Electrochemical Instrumentation and Pollution Control. With three extension R&D Centres located at Chennai, Mandapam and Tuticorin, the institution has earned a name for itself over the years. Its expertise is utilised by multinationals, government agencies, public and private sector industrial units. Its achievements include 700 patents, 200 processes, 300 sponsored and grants-in-aid projects, 400 licensees and 4,100 research and review papers. It brings out an international monthly journal `Bulletin of Electrochemistry' besides a monthly newsletter titled `Monthly Science News'.

Its Centre for Education offers a degree course in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering leading to B. Tech and M. Tech degrees. It also offers refresher courses, to train industry personnel and entrepreneurs.

The institute has to its credit 50 fifty major and minor awards.

Notable among its business partnerships, apart from leading national organisations like FICCI, CII, SIDBI etc. are the agreements with Global Exchange of Technology (GET), USA and the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), Korea. Its clients include the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the Central Research Organisation, Myanmar.