Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women

Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women is a deemed university located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1957 by the Avinashilingam Education Trust under the leadership of T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar, it began as Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women with an initial enrolment of 45 students. It functioned as part of the University of Madras until it gained deemed university status in 1987.

The institute is one of the largest educational establishments in India focusing on women’s higher education, particularly in home science and related fields. It upholds educational principles inspired by figures such as Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Saradamani Devi, Swami Vivekananda, and Mahatma Gandhi, promoting values of discipline, service, honesty, and respect.

Avinashilingam offers a broad range of academic programmes including undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated, postgraduate diploma, and doctoral courses across multiple disciplines. The university is organised into seven schools covering areas such as Physical and Computational Sciences, Biosciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Home Sciences, Education, Management Studies, Engineering, and Allied Health Sciences.

Since 1989, its undergraduate courses have been structured around majors and ancillary subjects within a two-semester academic year. The institute currently serves over 7,500 students and has an alumni network exceeding 75,000. A dedicated placement cell manages career support and placement activities. Scholarships are available based on merit and eligibility criteria.

Governance is overseen by the Avinashilingam Education Trust, with Dr. T. S. K. Meenakshisundaram as Chancellor, Dr. V. Bharathi Harishankar as Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Indu H as Registrar. The National Institutional Ranking Framework ranked the university 98th among Indian universities and placed it within the 151-200 range overall in 2024.

Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women, located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, was established in 1957. It was originally founded as the Avinashilingam Home Science College for Women by the Avinashilingam Education Trust, which was established by T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar. The institution began with a modest intake of 45 women students.

Initially, the institute functioned as an aided college under the University of Madras. In June 1987, it was separated from the University of Madras and attained the status of a deemed university. Since then, it has grown steadily and is now regarded as one of the largest institutions in India dedicated to the education of women, especially in the field of home science.

Throughout its development, the institute has focused on delivering education that balances academic rigor with cultural values and social relevance. The founding vision was supported by notable figures such as Dr. Rajammal P. Devadas, a prominent authority in home science, who contributed to shaping the institution's direction and growth.

The institution’s educational philosophy is rooted in the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Saradamani Devi, Swami Vivekananda, and Mahatma Gandhi. It emphasises the importance of living a disciplined life dedicated to service and upholding values such as purity, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

The organisational structure includes seven academic schools, each governed by a Dean who is a senior professor. The schools cover various fields including Physical and Computational Sciences, Biosciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Home Sciences, Education, Management Studies, Engineering, and Allied Health Sciences.

Since 1989, the university has offered undergraduate degree courses structured around two majors and two ancillary subjects, with the academic year divided into two semesters of at least 100 working days each. The institute offers a broad range of academic programmes including 21 undergraduate courses, 19 postgraduate courses, one integrated course, five postgraduate diploma courses, and 34 doctorate programmes.

Currently, the institute serves more than 7,500 students and has a substantial alumni base exceeding 75,000 individuals. A placement cell is also in place to manage career placement activities for students. Scholarships are provided based on merit and other eligibility conditions.

Leadership and governance of the institute continue under the guidance of the Avinashilingam Education Trust. Presently, Dr. T. S. K. Meenakshisundaram serves as Managing Trustee of the Trust as well as Chancellor of the university. The Vice Chancellor is Dr. V. Bharathi Harishankar, and Dr. Indu H is the Registrar.

The university’s ranking in national frameworks reflects its standing in higher education. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of India placed the university 98th among universities and within the 151-200 band overall in the year 2024.

Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women offers a wide range of academic programmes spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated, postgraduate diploma, and doctoral levels. These courses are designed to provide comprehensive education across various disciplines, catering to the academic and professional development of women students.

At the undergraduate level, the institute provides 21 distinct courses. These programmes typically follow a semester system with two semesters in an academic year, each consisting of a minimum of 100 working days. Since 1989, the undergraduate curriculum has included options for two major subjects alongside two ancillary subjects, allowing students to gain a broad and balanced academic foundation. The courses cover fields such as home science, physical sciences, biosciences, arts and social sciences, education, management studies, engineering, and allied health sciences.

For postgraduate studies, Avinashilingam offers 19 courses. These programmes provide advanced academic training and research opportunities in specialised areas. The postgraduate courses are structured to enable students to deepen their knowledge and develop expertise in their chosen fields, preparing them for professional careers or further research.

The institute also offers an integrated course, which combines undergraduate and postgraduate studies into a continuous academic programme. This allows students to pursue an extended period of study within a focused discipline.

In addition to degree courses, the university provides five postgraduate diploma courses. These diploma programmes are designed to enhance professional skills and knowledge in specific areas, often complementing degree qualifications or serving as standalone credentials for career advancement.

Research and doctoral studies form a significant part of the institute’s academic offerings. With 34 doctoral programmes available, students can engage in extensive research across various domains under the guidance of experienced faculty. The doctoral courses contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation, with a focus on home science and related disciplines.

Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women has been evaluated and ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which is an initiative by the Government of India to assess higher education institutions across the country.

In the 2024 NIRF rankings, the university was placed 98th among universities in India. Additionally, Avinashilingam Institute was ranked within the band of 151 to 200 overall.

During the 2023 placement season, over 102 companies visited Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women’s campus to recruit graduating students. A total of 936 offers were extended to students from various programmes, including BTech, MBA, MA, and others.

The highest salary package offered during the 2023 placements was INR 9.50 lakh per annum (LPA), while the lowest package was INR 2.50 LPA. These figures indicate the range of compensation provided to successful candidates across different disciplines.

The institute operates a Career Guidance and Placement Cell, which is responsible for organising training sessions, placement activities, and internship opportunities.

As part of its support services, the Placement Cell provides over 120 hours of exclusive competitive exam training. In 2023, 70 students registered for the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations and received this specialised training to enhance their preparation.

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