Dr.Premavathy Vijayan assumed charge as Vice-Chancellor of Avinashilingam Institute for Home
Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore on 10th Aug 2016.
Dr.Premavathy Vijayan was a distinguished Professor and also the Head of the Department of Special Education
during 1999-2015 at Avinashilingam University. She studied M.Sc. Food and Nutrition and M.Ed. at Avinashilingam
Home Science College, Coimbatore. She received Diploma in Special Education from Moray House College of
Education, Edinburgh University, Scotland, United Kingdom in 1985-86.
She entered academia in 1986 as a Lecturer in IEVH and emerged as the Head of the Department of Special
Education in 1999, and she was promoted as the Dean of Faculty of Education in 2014. She was one of the very few
pioneers in the country who implemented Inclusive Education in India. She is a Fellow/Member of Common Wealth
British Council.
Receiving the National Award 2010 from the former Hon. President of India Smt. Prathiba Patil
She has authored / co-authored 9 books / monographs and published articles in reputed Journals. She continues to provide reviewer services to a number of journals and edited 3 books in Special Education published by IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) New Delhi. She has been conducting innovative researches in Education and Special Education for nearly 20 years. Currently she is the Director of the prestigious Indo-US research project under Obama-Singh Knowledge Initiative Project granted by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
She has been honoured with prestigious awards which include
- Sivoka Human Resource Management and Karangal Trust honoured Dr.Premavathy Vijayan with Tamil Tharagai 2017 award in recognition for her contributions towards Higher Education for Women on the eve of Women's day March 8th 2017.
- The National Award for Outstanding Services for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2010 by the President of India Smt. Prathiba Patil on 3.12.2010.
- The Best Special Teacher award by Christoffel Blinden Mission in Appreciation of the Pioneering and Dedicated Services Rendered to the cause of Integrated Education of Visually Handicapped on 6.5.1993.
- The Best Trainer for the Women with Visual Impairment by All India Confederation of the Blind, New Delhi in 1986.
