Perform all your activities with Love. Love should originate from the source, i.e. the heart and not by force. Chant His name wholeheartedly at least for half a minute, that is enough. One teaspoon of cow’s milk is better than barrels of donkey’s milk. God is interested in quality, not in quantity. Excerpts from Divine Discourse: 4 March 2000 SRI SATHYA SAI BABA Revered Founder Chancellor, SSSIHL Foreword Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) has long Trust has led to the successful clinical validation of the first been synonymous with Values-based Integral Education, the prototype of a portable, cost-effective and high-resolution foundations of which have been engrained in the University by Gamma Camera system - SAI-GC - for small organ imaging, the message and tireless efforts - in its formative years - of our including that of non-invasive cancer. Other areas of research Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. such as Disease Biology, Environmental Studies, Functional This approach pervades all aspects of our system of education, Materials and Composites, Nanomaterials, Point-of-Care and aims at the all-round development of the personality of Devices, Edible or Medicinally Active Natural Products, etc., are the student, in line with the National Education Policy 2020, showing similar promising results. Most importantly, almost all by integrating the physical and mental with the emotional and our research applications are intended to directly benefit those spiritual. The Self Reliance activities built into our University who belong to the lowest strata of society in diverse ways. curricula trains the students to become self-reliant in their chosen fields, so that they may contribute, in due course, to the The University continues in the upward path of the previous making of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. years in all areas, thereby reinforcing the important role we play in the field of education. Our strength in academics, The COVID-19 crisis has shown us that this is particularly from the consistent above 95% pass rate in Examinations to a relevant now. Our families, our society, and our nation need high degree of students passing National-level examinations, men and women of character to stand up and meet the is complemented by the continued growth of needs-based challenges head on. In many ways, therefore, this has been a research areas across all disciplines. We have broken new year both of reflection and forward-thinking at the University. grounds in the national ranking, and hope to get better in the I am proud to report that we have not only overcome the years to come. complexities and adversities that the pandemic has brought, but have done it with the care and thoughtfulness that is very Perhaps, what is most satisfying to me, personally, is the characteristic of the SSSIHL. continued enthusiasm shown by our student and teaching community for the ‘Integral Education’ activities. This is best We have fast-tracked the pace of digitalization. This has highlighted by the silent but distinct community service enabled us to successfully conduct our examinations, activities that the students of each Campus carry out year after complete the admission process, and initiate the teaching year. A special mention needs to be made of the Grama Seva procedures in the best possible way. In addition, our activities that our Beloved Bhagawan commenced in the year researchers have embarked on a number of areas of research 2000, and which continues to this day, in an evolved format. associated with COVID-19, such as a Rapid Testing Platform These activities aim at sensitizing our students to the needs of and Natural Products & Derivatives, in an effort to find the less privileged who live in the rural communities of India. solutions that will protect our communities, and offer This widening access to the community, we hope, will shape expert advice to local and national governments. These are our students into responsible citizens who will help combat highlighted in the report. the social, and environmental challenges that we are facing today. Our students continue to have access to the best possible infrastructure and facilities, thanks to the continued support of Our students and staff continue to be the key to our ongoing the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. In the past five academic years, success. I would like to thank them for their commitment and its investment of `53 crores has resulted in excellent academic hard work, especially considering the crisis we find ourselves infrastructure, buildings, laboratories and world-class research in. I also thank the alumni, the donors, and the members of the facilities in the Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations for their sustained love and and the Central Research Laboratory (CRL). Many of our support. Lastly, I am grateful to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust application-oriented research projects have been of such high for their continued support and guidance. quality and value that we have filed for patents in order to protect our intellectual property, on the one hand, and, on the I take great pleasure in sharing the SSSIHL Annual Report other, chased the ‘Affordable Innovation’ concept that may 2020 with you, and pray to our Revered Founder Chancellor, lead to the creation of an ‘Innovation platform’ within SSSIHL. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, to guide and bless us so that we It is envisioned that this platform will create an ecosystem for continue to come up to His expectations. startups that will take the benefits of research at SSSIHL to the society. Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi The results of these are visible. Research funding from Vice-Chancellor agencies like DST, DBT, CSR, ICMR, and the Tata Foundation Annual Report 2020 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2020 Contents Introduction Sri Sathya Sai Values-based Integral Education 8 Integral Education Activities 10 Governance & Structure 12 SSSIHL Statistics 2019/20 14 Academics & Research Events 16 Achievements & Participation 22 Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) 34 SSSIHL COVID-19 Research 36 Research Areas 37 Funded Research Projects 48 Research Publications 50 Integral Education Special Annual Events 58 Community Service 64 8 Introduction Sri Sathya Sai Values-based Integral Education Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be Distinctive Features University), Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh, India, is a visible manifestation of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s vision Admissions of education for human transformation. ⚪ Merit-based open admissions policy for all irrespective of income, religion or region Bhagawan Baba has designed the system of Sri Sathya Sai Free, high quality education for all students Values-based Integral Education in such a manner that ⚪ between the time an 18-year old student joins the Institute and Residential Character when she or he graduates (at the age of 21 or 23), there is a deep inner transformation that takes place. This concept is very ⚪ Compulsory residential character enabling translation of unique at the university level. lessons learnt into practical skills through experiential learning The Institute hosts over 1350 undergraduate, postgraduate, ⚪ Spiritual ambience in an environment of discipline and love professional and research students across four campuses: ⚪ All doctoral research scholars, students and select teaching faculty reside together in the hostel For women students: ⚪ Cultivation of the spirit of self-reliance, brotherhood and ⚪ Anantapur Campus at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh sacrifice through mentoring and personal example For men students: Infrastructure ⚪ Prasanthi Nilayam Campus at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh ⚪ Campuses set in spacious and peaceful surroundings ⚪ Brindavan Campus at Whitefield, Bangalore, Karnataka ⚪ Well equipped, modern science laboratories and cutting ⚪ Muddenahalli Campus at Muddenahalli, Karnataka edge Research Instruments Facility ⚪ Libraries across campuses with over 2,00,000 volumes Programmes offered include: ⚪ Computer and Multimedia learning centres with ultra-high Undergraduate: B.A., B.Com. (Hons.), B.Sc. (Hons.), B.B.A., ⚪ speed broadband internet connectivity B.P.A. ⚪ International Centre for Sports and a cricket stadium ⚪ Postgraduate: M.A., M.Sc. ⚪ Professional: B.Ed., M.B.A., M.Tech. Academics & Research ⚪ Research: Ph.D. ⚪ Over 95% examinations pass rate A Modern Gurukula ⚪ Favourable Student-Teacher Ratio ⚪ Integrated five-year programmes combining undergraduate Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) was and postgraduate studies for a systematic and graduated founded to inculcate ethical and moral values in students. learning process These ethics and morals form the undercurrent of every ⚪ Interdisciplinary research for societal benefit subject taught at the University. This helps students develop ⚪ Awareness Programmes and Moral Classes reinforcing a wholesome and balanced personality, one where academic human values competence is supplemented with good character. Integral Education This holistic development of students can only be possible Life lessons learnt through the message of the Revered in an environment that encourages the development of the ⚪ Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba student’s mind, body and spirit. ⚪ Application of what is learned in daily life Integrating human values with secular knowledge To facilitate this, the University has a compulsory residential ⚪ Inculcating the spirit of self-reliance and service