On July 14, 2026, VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) inaugurated its Thiruvanmiyur Campus in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, branding it as India’s first AI‑integrated vertical university campus. The inauguration was led by Padma Shri Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist and Co‑Founder of Zoho Corporation, who served as the chief guest. The ceremony also featured His Excellency Ahmed Mir Hashim Khoori, Member of the Federal National Council, UAE, and Board Member of the Emirates Airline Foundation, attending as Guest of Honour, while Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder‑Chancellor of VISTAS, presided over the event alongside Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President of the VELS Group of Institutions.
During his address, Dr. Ganesh lauded Sridhar Vembu’s contributions to indigenous technology and entrepreneurship and highlighted the need for universities to evolve with rapid technological change. He described the new campus as a smart, sustainable, innovation‑driven institution designed to nurture research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and globally competent professionals. Dr. Preethaa Ganesh emphasized a student‑first philosophy, noting that AI‑enabled classrooms, collaborative innovation hubs, industry‑connected laboratories, digital learning environments and world‑class amenities have been integrated to create a future‑ready learning ecosystem.
A key outcome of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between VELS, Aspin Holding LLC Group and MH Cockpit to establish a Flying School in the United Arab Emirates, aimed at fostering aviation education, pilot training, faculty exchange, internships, skill development, research and international career opportunities for students. VELS also announced an upcoming MoU with Zoho Corporation to collaborate on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital skill development and industry‑academia initiatives.
The campus will host Industry–Academia Centres of Excellence created in partnership with Intel Unnati, TCS iON, Microsoft and Oracle Academy. These centres will provide hands‑on experience in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, high‑performance computing and other emerging technologies, supporting experiential learning through live projects, internships, research, startup incubation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
His Excellency Ahmed Mir Hashim Khoori congratulated VELS on its growth, drawing parallels with the expansion of Emirates Airline and underscoring the strengthening educational, aviation, technology and economic ties between India and the UAE. Padma Shri Sridhar Vembu praised the campus’s architecture and reiterated the importance of building indigenous technologies from “atoms to bits” to keep India globally competitive, stating that Zoho looks forward to collaborating with VELS.
Following the inauguration, Sridhar Vembu engaged in an interactive session with VELS students, discussing artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, research, rural innovation and nation‑building, urging students to develop deep technical expertise, embrace lifelong learning and contribute meaningfully to India’s technological advancement.
The inauguration marks a defining milestone for VELS as it seeks to redefine higher education through AI, industry collaboration, global partnerships and cutting‑edge technology, positioning its graduates as innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and leaders capable of shaping the future.
Application details: Prospective students can apply via velsthiruvanmiyur.com.