Dr. Ranee Vedamuthu is a Professor of Architecture and currently heads the Mohamed Sathak A. J. Academy of Architecture, Chennai, as the Director. She has 37 years of teaching/ research/ professional experience, having graduated from the SAP, University of Madras, in 1983. She started her career as a Teaching Research Fellow at Anna University and went on to do a Master’s Degree in Architecture and a PhD. She also has a Graduate Certificate in World Heritage Conservation from the University of Dublin, Ireland.

She formerly headed the School of Architecture and Planning, at Anna University as the Dean and was also the Registrar prior to her retirement. She was nominated by the State Government of Tamil Nadu to the Council of Architecture for two consecutive terms (2015-2021) and was a member of its Executive Committee between 2015 to 2018.

Dr. Vedamuthu was awarded, the Career Award for Young Teachers awarded by the AICTE (1998- 2001), the Getty Foundation Fellowship in April 2015; and the German Academic Exchange (DAAD) grant in 2016. She was the Architectural Research Head for the Chennai pavilion at the Seoul Biennale on Architecture and Urbanism from September - November 2017 in collaboration with the InKo Center, Chennai. She was also recognized by the Indian Institute of Architects, TN Chapter for the Hon’ble Teacher Award in 2012. Furthermore, she is a life member of INTACH and an e-member of SAH (Society of Architectural Historians) and is currently the Co-Convener of the INTACH Chennai Center. She has a number of research publications in prestigious National and International journals (refereed). Twelve scholars have obtained PhD degrees under her supervision.

Mohamed Sathak A. J. Academy of Architecture, Chennai

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

I have held several positions during my career. My passion for Architecture has kept me associated with the industry for all these years. I enjoy teaching and educating students. Being able to guide them and help them succeed in life is extremely rewarding to me.

Being the director of MSAJAA, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

My leadership is to be Inclusive and to involve all stakeholders in the advancement of the institution. I want to work with everyone in the college to collaboratively create better opportunities for growth. My leadership style is also to prepare students so that they are not only present-ready but also future-ready.

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The education systems in India and other foreign countries are structured very differently. In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying here in your institute?

One of the biggest benefits of our college is our team of faculty. MSAJAA has well-qualified faculty with specialization in Urban Design, Environmental Planning, Architectural Conservation, Landscape Architecture, Project Management, Real Estate Development, Structural Design, and Interior design. They are affiliated with several professional institutions and are certified LEED, IGBC, WELL, and GRIHA-accredited professionals. Inbound students get to learn first hand from the experience and 

MSAJAA also has an institutional membership with the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Mumbai, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). MSAJAA also has collaborations across disciplines and architecture.

Through such collaboratives will provide better exposure for the students and open a wide range of opportunities.

Any insights into how your university could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

MSAJAA is a minority institution that provides plenty of opportunities for students with minority backgrounds as well as for economically weaker sections. We have several policies in place to help these students progress in their careers. Students can apply to scholarships and public financial aide during their studies here.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the University and the students are?

My responsibility towards the students is primarily to guide them. It is my duty to raise the standard of student employability by exposing them to current trends. I need to bring the practice of architecture at our college on par with global requirements and nurture skills that will lead to entrepreneurship and design leadership among the students.

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What would you like people to know about your university they may not know?

MSAJAA is one of the very few standalone architecture schools in the country with excellent infrastructure, and well-qualified faculty with varied specializations. It is the first institute in the whole of South India to introduce a 2-year M.Arch. program in Architectural conservation. We provide learning through collaborative design studios with top institutions of the country - urban design studio with the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. We have established a rural studio with Hunnarshala foundation, Bhuj, Gujarat through ACEDGE, ethos and have built workshops with Auroville and Thannal and heritage programs with INTACH, Delhi.

We connect students and faculty with international partners through MoUs resulting in workshops, lectures, and exchange programs. MSAJAAA has recently successfully signed an MoU with Taylor's University, Malaysia, and an MoU with the University of Tours, France is on the anvil. The college believes in promoting student-centric experiential learning practices through frequent case study programs, site visits, travel, workshops, seminars, think tanks, crits, and panels.