Today, the healthcare industry is progressing at a faster pace than ever, with bioscience and technology occupying the forefront position. Undeniably, biotechnology and its branches have given a boost to the entire healthcare space. Due to the advancement in the biotech industry, currently, around 350 million patients are being benefitted.
This has also generated a high demand for skilled and highly qualified professionals, and the School of Biosciences and Technology (SBST), VIT University, Vellore is catering to the industry needs . VIT focuses on providing excellent fundamental research as well as the development of innovative technologies for the future. It offers quality research training experience for its students. Through a dense local and international network, the institute maintains a link to world-class research.
A Dedicated Leader
VIT was established in 1984 under the tutelage of its Founder-Chancellor, Dr. G. Viswanathan. The foundation of the institute was started as a self-financing institution – Vellore Engineering College. Over the years, the engineering college evolved into a university with two campuses, one in Vellore and the other in Chennai. In the year 2001, the engineering college was conferred university status by the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development.
Having started with an intake of a mere 180 students in 1984, VIT currently receives hundreds of thousands (Lakhs) of applications seeking admission every year, and over 32,000 students are enrolled in 53 undergraduate and graduate programs. The university is headed by Dr. G. Viswanathan, a former parliamentarian and minister in the Tamil Nadu Government. In recognition of his service to India in offering world-class education, he was conferred an honorary doctorate by the West Virginia University, USA.
Dr. Viswanathan is a source of inspiration to modern-day youth. He wanted to play a bigger role in provincial politics so that he can make a direct contribution to bettering the lives of the people. Apart from providing the best educational facilities to the deserving candidates, he has adopted several villages in an effort to improve the quality of lives of the rural people. His vision of transforming Vellore into a greener and cooler town by planting one million saplings has begun to yield fruit. Dr. Viswanathan’s farsightedness extends beyond horizons.
Overview of SBST
With well-equipped and high-end instrumentation facility, SBST offers 40 research laboratories and 12 teaching laboratories. Through these highly equipped labs, training is imparted to undergraduate, the post-graduate and the research students. The central instrumentation facility at the SBST houses advanced instrumentation facilities like Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), High-Performance Liquid and Chromatography (HPLC).
Apart from this, it is also equipped with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultrasonicator, Chemiluminescence Image Processing, Particle Size Analyzer, Inverted Microscope and Electroporator. It’s UV Spectroscopy Multicellular, Lyophilizer, Ultracentrifuge, Fluorescence Spectrophotometer, and Real-time PCR are some distinctive instruments besides all the basic instruments.
One of the vital features in the academic activity of SBST is its strong link with many national and international research networks across the globe. VIT students regularly participate in the study abroad programs (SAP) and exchange programs. The aim of these programs is to keep the students and the research personnel abreast with the rapidly and continuously evolving disciplines in biosciences and bioengineering.
Worldwide Recognition
VIT has been assessed by top-ranking agencies such as QS World University Ranking, Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking, QS and THE Asia Ranking. It has also been recognized by QS and THE BRICS Ranking, THE Young university ranking of the world universities and a few others. It is the first institute of India to receive QS 4-Star rating in the overall category and QS 5-Star rating in teaching, employability, facilities, innovation and inclusiveness.
Apart from this, VIT’s innovative research has led to the granting of 4 patents and publication of 61 patents.
- Awarded the status of Institute of eminence (IoE) by the Government of India.
- Ranked second amongst the cleanest higher educational institutions in the country under the category Residential university-AICTE by MHRD, Government of India.
- Positioned at no.1 for the ARIIA (Atal Ranking of Institutions for Innovation Achievements) 2019 awards, among the private institutes.
After completing their respective degrees from VIT, the students have joined various prestigious institutions and MNCs. One such mentionable alumnus of VIT is Ms. Shubhangi Swaroop who pursued engineering degree in biotechnology in the year 2016. She has carved a niche in history by becoming the Indian Navy’s first woman pilot.
Other notable alumni are Mr. Rachit Raj, an alumnus (2008-2012) of VIT, who has bagged the third position in the prestigious All-India UPSC examination held in the year 2013, Ms. Lithika Bhanu who had graduated as a Biotechnology engineer in the year 2010, is the founder and director of Terra Greens Organic, Mr. Arjun Krishna who had completed his BTech degree in Biotechnology (2012) is the co-founder of Naturlich Globe Beverages.
Future Endeavors
One of the major strategies of SBST would be to bench-mark the courses being offered by the school with those of top-ranking universities. Along with this, the institute is planning to have an entrepreneurship development cell to strengthen students with entrepreneur skills and additionally, focusing on 100 per cent placement.
Further, VIT plans to initiate transdisciplinary research at the SBST through the conduct of workshops and seminars. The initiative will be started with a view to make the inmates aware and inspire them for adopting this highly potential mode of research.
