Media Release
Udupi, Sep 8: Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), Bantakal, a unit of SODE Group of Institutions, Udupi has reached a significant milestone by attaining Autonomous Status under VTU and receiving NBA Accreditation to all eligible programs.
The University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, after evaluating the academic quality of the institute and upon the recommendation of the Higher Education Council, Government of Karnataka and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, has granted SMVITM autonomous status for 10 years, effective from the academic year 2025–26.
Recently, all eligible undergraduate BE programmes — Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering — have been accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), the apex body responsible for assessing the quality of UG and PG engineering programmes. In addition, the institute has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) too, with A Grade! We are recognised by NIRF Innovation Ranking in the band of 151-300 under Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Remarkably, within just 15 years of its establishment, SMVITM has become the youngest institution in the coastal region of Karnataka to achieve such prestigious recognitions. These milestones reaffirm the institute’s commitment to delivering quality and holistic education to its students.
With autonomous status, SMVITM can now design its own curricula for UG and PG programmes in alignment with the NEP 2020 University guidelines. It will oversee academic processes including curriculum design, teaching–learning methods, and student performance evaluation, while the degrees will continue to be awarded by the University based on the institute’s recommendations and fulfilment of academic requirements.
The institute has already created robust infrastructure and continues to enhance its facilities to strengthen the teaching–learning ecosystem, with confidence in meeting the expectations of all stakeholders. In line with its vision, the management is also committed to nurturing talented students to establish start-ups and technology-driven enterprises.
To support this initiative, the institute has recently set up an Incubation Centre — “Madhwa Incubator for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Mi-TiE)” — through the Sode Vadiraja Foundation, a registered Section 8 company under Ministry of Corporate Affairs, New Delhi. This full-fledged incubator, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, skilled manpower, and technical support, has been established within the institute campus for the benefit of students, faculty, and other stakeholders. The Ministry of MSME has already recognised SMVITM as Host Institute to act as Business Incubator.
These announcements were made during a press meet in the presence of Rathnakumar (secretary of the Trust), Dr Radhakrishna S Aithal (CEO of SODE Group of Institutions), Harish Belman (governing council member),Dr Thirumaleshwar Bhat (principal of SMVITM). His Holiness Shri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji of Shri Sode Vadiraja Matha has conveyed his best wishes on this salient fete.