Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Chennai

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University) previously known as SRMC & RI (DU), ranked among the top health sciences universities in India, had its origin as Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute which was established by Sri Ramachandra Educational and Health Trust in the year 1985 as a private not-for-profit self-financing institution and dedicated to serve the society as a centre of excellence with emphasis on medical education, research and health care. The Trust achieved the task of establishing the Institution as a “Centre of Excellence” under the leadership of Late Shri. N.P.V.Ramasamy Udayar who was the Founder & Managing Trustee of the Trust and also the first Chancellor of the Deemed University. Shri.V.R.Venkataachalam is currently the Chancellor of the Deemed University and is also the Managing Trustee of the Trust. Shri R.V. Sengutuvan is the Pro Chancellor of the Deemed University.

In view of its academic excellence, the Government of India declared Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute as a Deemed University in September, 1994 under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. As notified by the UGC, the nomenclature of the institution was changed to Sri Ramachandra University in 2006 and reverted to SRMC&RI (DU) from December, 2017. Now, as per the Notification dt.08.08.2018 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, the name of the DU has been changed to “Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University).

Over three decades, the institute has transformed into a full-fledged Deemed University and at present, with twelve faculties / constituent colleges, viz., Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Management, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Sports & Exercise Sciences Faculty of Clinical Research, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, the Deemed University offers 150 UG and PG programs in health care sciences. With a faculty strength of around 950, more than 6,500 students receive teaching and training under them (Faculty: Student ratio 1:7) from the academic year 2019-20.

Accreditations and recognitions

The consistent quest for excellence in medical education, health care and research has earned the Deemed University many notable accreditations, recognitions and awards. Notable among them are:

The Deemed University has been graded as Category I Status by the UGC in 2018.It has also has achieved the distinction of being placed at the 33rd rank among all Universities in India by the MHRD NIRF Ranking 2019. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has reaccredited (in cycle-2) SRMC & RI (DU) with “A” Grade with a CGPA of 3.62 on a 4-point scale, the highest to be awarded to a private medical Deemed University in India. The India Today Survey of 2019 has placed the Deemed University as the Best Health Sciences University in the Private Sectors in India . The Joint Commission International (JCI) reaccredited the hospital, the first teaching hospital in India to obtain the accreditation up to January, 2018. Similar reaccreditation has also been received from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH). The Medical Council of India (MCI) has recognized and upgraded the Regional Centre in Medical Education Technologies, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, as a Nodal Centre for medical education technology courses. The WHO has designated Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Occupational Health. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has reaccredited the Biodosimetry lab of the Department of Human Genetics for assessment of personnel radiation exposure and related studies. The Faculty of Public Health has the distinction of being recognized by the ICMR as a “SRMC & RI (DU) ICMR Centre for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health” The Deemed University was ranked 5th under SWACHH Campus Ranking 2018 of Universities (Residential) by the MHRD, Govt. of India, for maintaining a green, garbage and pollution free hygienic campus. Location and accessibility

Location and accessibility
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University) is located in Porur, on the busy Chennai – Bangalore highway, a twenty minute drive from the Chennai international airport. Chennai is a busy metropolis situated at head of sixty miles of pristine beach in the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is a fast growing industrial, medical and knowledge hub in South India that retains its charm, tradition and culture. It is well connected by road, rail and air to almost any destination in the world.

Infrastructure
The infrastructure at the University has been created to provide its students the best educational environment in the country. Over two million square feet of constructed space houses technologically advanced, fully air-conditioned state of the art class rooms, modern laboratories and one of the largest medical libraries in the region - the Central Library Learning Centre.

Campus and facilities
Spread over 150 acres, the University is housed in a refreshingly green campus. Well manicured lawns, sprawling open spaces and trees dot the campus. The campus itself is a township with colleges, the medical centre, staff and student housing, conference facilities, play grounds, multi cuisine restaurants, ATMs, gift shops, travel service, railway reservation counter and a post office.

The Mission
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University) will actively promote and preserve the higher values and ethics in education, health care and research and will pursue excellence in all these areas while consciously meeting the expectations of the people it serves without prejudice and in all fairness stay socially meaningful in its propagation of the various arts and sciences to enrich humanity at large.

The Vision
"To offer diverse educational programmes that facilitate the development of competent professionals and valuable citizens, who demonstrate excellence in the respective disciplines, while being locally and globally responsive in areas of education, healthcare delivery and research".

Shri NPV Ramasamy Udayar was born on September 19, 1936, in a small town in the current Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu called Rasipuram. His meteoric rise as an industrialist was propelled by an astute business sense but even more important an untiring spirit and hard work. In the early eighties Mr. Udayar was a highly successful industrialist, respected by his colleagues, and admired even by his competitors. He felt that there was an unfulfilled aspiration in his heart; a desire to create something that will be a lasting benefit to the community; this desire kept burning like a fire in his heart.

The dream took form with the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu - Bharat Ratna Dr. M.G. Ramachandran granted permission to start the first privately owned medical college in Tamil Nadu.

On September 11th 1985, Sri Ramachandra Medical College was started in a two storey building in Vembuliamman Street in Valasaravakkam. The next few years saw the true grit of the man- his blood sweat and toil saw the creation of a world class campus out of a 150 green acres near the Porur lake.

1994 was a landmark year for SRMC & RI. The college became a deemed to be university - a world class tertiary care medical centre took root. Seeds for specialties were sown. In this substrate of hard work grew institutions committed to advancing the best in the health care sciences - in dentistry and nursing and physiotherapy.It was not just growth but growth with innovation as epitomized by the allied health science programs.

Throughout its history SRMC and RI has made its own path, creating unique ground breaking programs in the health care sciences. But this is only one of the many dimensions of this organisation.

SRMC went to the best medical school in the world to acquire its partner in excellence. In July 1997, Shri N.P.V. Ramasamy Udayar shook hands with Mr. Robert Crone CEO of Harvard Medical International, sealing a partnership that had grown in strength over time. Starting with student exchange the alliance had spearheaded curriculum reform, focused on health care quality, safety, leadership and faculty development.

A journey is measured by the friends we make – SRMC & RI has made many friends and partners around the world during its journey.

The torch was passed in 1998. The journey did not end - it continued through steps some times and leaps at others. SRMC is now one of the largest private health care infrastructures in India. Today, SRMC & RI now known as Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) has over 950 faculties and six thousand students; it touches the lives of over 5500 patients each day; through its telemedicine network it reaches over 10 centres in the country and Africa; through its international wing SRHI, it is reaching out to the global village; it is in the forefront of cutting edge technology - with a wireless campus, computer assisted learning, and keyhole surgery. One important milestone was achieved with the starting of Faculty of Engineering and Technology, offering the latest programs in engineering and technology, realizing one more dream of the Founder-Chancellor.

SRIHER looks to the future today - with inspiration from its past; and the strength of its present guided by the vision and blessing of its Founder and driven by a passion for excellence.

Dear Student,

It is with much pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to you once again and to all the new students who enter the portals of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, in pursuit of knowledge, skill and attitude during the academic year 2021-22.

This university offers an excellent ambience for your education and all round development. Keeping you in mind more and more new programmes have been started in the past year, which offer you ample opportunity for employment and higher studies. Competency based programmes are progressively adopted across faculties. The starting of a Faculty of Engineering and Technology to offer programs in the latest fields of computer sciences and technology, marks a major and significant initiative by the University for meeting societal and industry needs.

I am happy to note that the placement record of our students has been steadily improving over the years with more and more reputed companies, hospitals, research organizations, IT industry recruiting through our Placement Office. Students who excel in their studies and who perform well in the selection process, can certainly look forward to a rewarding career.

I am glad to state that these significant achievements have led the University to be ranked 28^th among all universities by the MHRD-NIRF Ranking 2020, while Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute was ranked 13^th, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Dental Sciences was ranked 7^th and the Faculty of Pharmacy was placed at the 26^th rank.

The Deemed University has also achieved the unique distinction of accreditation by NAAC 3^rd cycle with the possible highest grade of A⁺⁺ with CGPA of 3.53 on a 4-point scale. Further, the  ‘India Today Annual Survey of Best Colleges in India-2021’ has ranked Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute at the 6th place among all private medical colleges in India. I take this opportunity to congratulate the students, faculty and staff on these excellent achievements.

On the academic front, so much has shifted in the last two academic years and our faculty members have put in their best efforts to acclimatize to a new way of imparting education, though many challenges posed by the pandemic remain. Above all, the pandemic has spotlighted the need for  offering a consistent learning environment  of onsite and online mode of teaching and a blended learning environment is vital for driving an inclusive student experience, allowing students to access knowledge and skill in a way that works best for them around their individual needs. We record our appreciation that our faculty members have adopted successfully to the changing needs most admirably.

On this occasion, we must acknowledge the selfless service, dedication, determination of our frontline Corona warriors - doctors, nurses, technicians, transporters, EMTs, pharmacists and other staff – during the very trying second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, that have saved many valuable lives. They richly deserve our deepest gratitude and accolades for their true grit and courage. The post –Covid-19 clinical services that has started functioning in full vigour, speaks volumes of their true concern for our patients.

At this juncture, all that I ask of the faculty, students and staff is their continued vigil without let or hindrance against the Covid-19 pandemic and their observing all the Covid-19 guidelines. No doubt, the academic year 2021-22 will face enormous challenges due to Covid-19 pandemic and its impact, direct or indirect, on academic and other related activities. I expect all of you to rise to the occasion and march relentlessly towards achieving excellence in education, health care and research.