It’s several hundred acres of pristine earth and a long serpentine tar road which lead into what will be India’s newest metropolis, Amaravati. As one enters the designated zone for Andhra Pradesh’s new capital, it is evident that a new city is emerging from its rustic past. The roads are mature, but the signboards freshly-painted. Security officers are using high-tech equipment, but they arrive in antiquated police jeeps reminiscent of old movies. Amidst the lush greenery, concrete structures are rising from the ground, announcing that the Amaravati dream is right around the corner.
On the way to SRM AP, Amaravati
AP CM Chandrababu Naidu wants Amaravati to be a Navaratna City, an urban space which excels in several aspects, from tourism to technology. But there is one facet of the city which will define its future – its higher education.
For any city to provide its citizens with quality life, social infrastructure is key. Social infrastructure is considered one of the pillars of a Smart City by the Indian government, and quality higher education is an important component which helps develop social capital for citizens. Higher education enables the citizens of a city to participate in social governance.
And Naidu knows this, which is why his government’s aim is to create Amaravati as a knowledge hub focusing on research and education, ensuring the establishment of world-class institutes. At Amaravati, over 2100 acres of land have been earmarked just for educational institutes, and the government has encouraged tie-ups with universities and schools from different parts of the world.
SRM University’s newest campus in Amaravati has become the first institution to become functional in the new capital city, and the University’s President P Sathyanarayanan says that education will drive the growth of Amaravati.
“Amaravati, under the able guidance of its Chief Minister, has created a welcome atmosphere to encourage establishment of world-class universities for higher learning. By providing equal if not higher emphasis to Knowledge Infrastructure vis à vis Physical Infrastructure, I am sure Amaravati will emerge as a global destination for Higher Education - catering to the skilled manpower needs of the nation and the world,” says Sathyanarayanan.
From left: SRM AP President P Sathyanarayanan, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu and SRM University Chancellor T Pachamuthu
Addressing the inauguration of the Amaravati campus recently, Chandrababu Naidu said that the AP government is proud of SRM University, which completed a part of the construction process in the capital region in just five months, with buildings designed by globally renowned architects, Perkins + Will. “We are glad that SRM University is the first institution to be commissioned in Amaravati. The world-class education system of the varsity will definitely bring laurels to the State. Inauguration of SRM University is the first step in the process of making Andhra Pradesh a knowledge hub," he said.
SRM’s vision is to emerge as a world-class university that is globally connected, nationally relevant, and regionally transformative. “To achieve this, we are working with the world’s best universities including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and UC Berkeley College of Engineering,” says Sathyanarayanan. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, has helped design the curriculum of courses at SRM University. The courses incorporate the concept of hybrid learning by utilising both traditional and technologically enabled teaching methods.
The faculty members are a crucial link between the students and a university, and they are the human interface who will leave a lasting impact on students. SRM has ensured that they have hired the best faculty for the Amaravati campus. “All faculty we have recruited have PhDs; 90% have international academic exposure and 20% are foreign nationals. I am sure SRM Amaravati will usher in an environment of excellence and quality to nurture future-ready leaders,” Sathyanarayanan adds.
It isn’t just the fee-paying students whom SRM cares about. TR Pachamuthu, Founder and Chancellor of SRM University, announced at the inauguration that the SRM group will offer free education to 13 girl students every year who hail from poor or agriculture families - one from each district of Andhra Pradesh. Apart from this, the university will also offer scholarship worth Rs. 5,000 for 100 students in the State who excel in sports. SRM will adopt all villages in the capital region and offer free medical services through medical camps. The goal of the University is not just to empower its own students, but also Amaravati as a city. SRM, by being an inter-disciplinary institute, with its academic rigor and entrepreneurial heritage, will empower youth to serve the diverse needs of the emerging capital region.
For Admissions to SRM University, Amaravati, visit here.
This has been produced by TNM Marquee in association with SRM University.