VIT founder Dr G Vishwanath: Focus on Skill Building

Dr G Viswanath, founder and chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology, talks about the issues and challenges of the Indian education system

We should have a national policy on loans for student education”, says Vellore Institute of Technology Founder and Chancellor Dr G Viswanath, who believes every child should be provided equal opportunity for education. Viswanath founded the Vellore Institute of Technology in 1980.

“More than 11 crore children are deprived of higher education”, laments Viswanath. “It is important for us to bring them the right opportunities”. Talking about the importance of engineering in India, he says, “A developing country like ours requires engineers in all professional fronts.” He emphasizes on the need for quality private institutions that can match the standards of the IITs.

“The Indian Institutes of Technology get Rs 300 to 400 crore rupees each year from the government. Since that kind of support cannot be expected for private institutions, it is very important that the trusts of these institutions be committed towards the cause. It is only then we can provide the country quality workforce”, he says, stressing that running an educational institution is not a business but a responsibility.

Viswanath also stresses the need for good teachers. “Our students are not inclined to taking up teaching as a profession as we do not pay them well”, he says, citing Korea’s impressive faculty system in contrast. Talking of Vellore Institute of Technology, Viswanath specifies that efforts to make the institution one of the best in the world are ongoing and that the college has currently 176 signed memorandums of understanding with 48 countries.

Students are also encouraged through ‘Semester Abroad Programs’ to pursue one semester of their education abroad in their desired universities. “We also provide financial aid to students who require it”, says Viswanath. The institution has also opened a Creation Lab for its students where the latter can work on innovative ideas. “We also help them acquire patents for their work”.

For seven years now, the college has been practicing a unique system of fully flexible credits where the students can choose the subjects they wish to pursue and the teachers they wish to learn them from. “We have also provided dedicated career counselors to students, who will guide them from the very first year”, assures Viswanath.

The institution has maintained an impressive track record of placements. “I am glad that the students get to make their own choices from the multiple offers they receive”, he adds. A majority of the applications to VIT come from Andhra Pradesh and the chancellor believes this year, the college will witness many more admissions from Andhra and Telangana. The last date of application to apply for the prestigious institution is 15 March.