Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences (SIMATS) began its journey in a single storey building more than three decades ago and extended its bryophyllum to grow into a full-fledged University today. It has extended its educational service to medicine, allied medical education, engineering, dentistry, law, management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, nursing, physical education, and architecture. In over the three decades of its journey, the university has evolved through miles of transition to become a university from a single institution.

The Guiding Light

Every journey has a torch bearer, and in this case, the torch bearer is an alumnus of Madras Medical College, one of the premier Institutions of this country. A renowned dental surgeon, Dr N. M. Veeraiyan established a 100-bedded multi-specialty hospital in 1977 and a School of Nursing for Diploma course, the first of its kind in Erode.

He had a vision to impart education at par with international standards by updating the curriculum and reforming examination system, to expose and engage students and faculty in research activities. This led to the creation of a Deemed to be University namely Saveetha University in 2005. Later three more institutions were added to the Saveetha family – Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha School of Management and Saveetha School of Law.

Dr Veeraiyan is a Fellow of international honour from Pierre Fauchard Academy. His proficiency in Tamil language is revealed from the Tamil book “Vaai Pal Maruthuvam”, which was co- authored by him and fetched him an award from the Government of Tamil Nadu.

He is the proud recipient of “The Lifetime Achievement Award” by T.N. Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Edupreneur Award by The Times Of India, Inspiration Leaders of India Award 2013 by Gerri Schroder – Henderson City Council Member, Dr Ruby Dhalla – Indian Canadian Politician and Brand Ambassador PBG, Valerie Paker – President National Association of Women Business Owners and Award of Excellence 2013 by Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch. The staff and students of Saveetha University look up to him for guidance, as they admire his vision and his genuineness and commitment to the human cause and education.

Exhibiting Educational Excellence

The university offers a wide array of courses ranging from undergraduate, post-graduation, post- doctoral, diplomas, fellowships, certification courses which makes it around 158 courses in all. The university ensures that all the students are attended with equal care with a faculty-student ratio of 1:8.

Saveetha University hosts a massive and unique infrastructure encompassing teaching and training facilities. One of its primary beliefs as an education provider is that students and faculty learn and perform par excellence when they love the workplace. The university has attempted to establish a workplace which provides comfort and convenience along with academic resources.

The entire campus is wi-fi enabled with a connectivity speed of up to 1.6 GBPS. For the first time in India, 100% of the university’s clinics have adjoining ICT enabled seminar halls for academic purposes. There are 208 classrooms and 80 seminar halls each of which hosts a computer connected to a projector and smartboard unit. The campus spanning high-speed wi-fi access along with its integrated digital visual system allows for seamless interactive classes and activities during classroom sessions. There are 54 demonstration rooms, two simulation labs for laboratory and pre-clinical training of students and 275 staff rooms all of which are air-conditioned and Internet-enabled providing a soothing yet connected working environment.

There are 258 laboratories which includes biochemical labs, preclinical and clinical laboratories as well as an Animal House for animal studies and 21 research labs for in-vitro and ex-vivo studies. There are 75 wards for inpatients with adequate facilities, nurse stations and attenders’ recreation rooms. There are 196 clinics to reduce waiting time for patients, 24 surgical operatories equipped with imported modular state-of-the-art surgical equipment, these facilities are very rare in other institutions.

Saveetha University is certified as the largest centre for microscopic training centres. Its commitment to providing a comfortable experience extends from classrooms to examination halls as well, for each hall is adequately ventilated with spacious tables, chairs, and air conditioning for students.

The University has 16 museums which display a wide array of models and specimens. There are 27 libraries encompassing three central libraries and 24 department libraries. It also hosts six highly equipped auditoriums with massive LED displays and can cumulatively accommodate 4,000 people. There are three photography studios which enable precise documentation of patients, clinical and laboratory procedures. The University’s other facilities include three drawing rooms, eight placement cells, one moot court, one tutorial room, one legal aid cell, student counselling cell and a women empowerment cell in each institution.

Staying at par with technology

The equipment in Saveetha University’s facilities rival that of a large-scale IT company in terms of digital communion to its academic workflow. For seamless integration of its proprietary MILA education system, the university has installed approximately 4,294 computers which includes 2,650 iPads along with 190 projectors and smartboards and 12 Apple TVs. It is also the first and only institution in the entirety of India to host a CAD-CAM unit as well as a 3D printer for in-house production of advanced dental prostheses in its Tessellation Centre.

The university’s radiology department also possesses a CBCT machine for dental implantology and surgical treatment planning. Its combo clinic system contains 300 scaler units, 300 LC units and 400 articulators for each student to learn and perform gold standard dental therapy. There are about 600 dental equipment, 2,500 wards, surgical equipment and 150 engineering related equipment.

Numerous collaborative researches across the institution under SIMATS, across other institutions in India and abroad are also going on. The MOUs that the university holds with national and international universities ensures the culture of pursuing research at various international universities by student exchange programs.

Undergraduate students also pursue research. The university holds thousands of publications in reputed indexed and high impact journals. Patents and innovative strategies are of prime importance and the university has proved its excellence. Continuing education and faculty development programs, workshops and conferences at all levels are a routine all along the years.

Adequate importance is given to co-curricular and extracurricular activities, there is an inhouse gym, a swimming pool, a badminton court, and a track area too. At SIMATS, food and stay for students are also given with utmost care. They have an al-a-carte menu which enables them to have what they want and a hostel with an at-home environment.

A strong alumni base is another strength, where they meet every year in the campus to see their alma mater grow and show how they grew because of their alma mater and to inspire the next generation too.

SIMATS holds four records in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is accredited with “A” by NAAC, recognized by UGC. The University has an IQAC cell for quality management. It was ranked the 43 position as a university and fourth position as a dental college by NIRF ranking system.

SIMATS’ prospects for the near future include an international accreditation like CODA and providing health care services with numerous satellite dental and medical units. The university is striving hard to improvise and be a better version of itself year after year.

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