A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore on May 28, 2013 at New Delhi. This MoU aims at providing an opportunity to the Women Chartered Accountants to pursue the Ph.D programme in Full time/ Part time mode. As on date, ICAI has more than 2 lakh members, out of which, 20% are women. There are more than one million students pursuing CA Course out of which about one third students are women.

This is the 97th University/ IIMs /Institution and the first Women’s Institute which has recognised Chartered Accountancy qualification for pursuing the Ph.D Programme. Considering the sound practical and technical knowledge of Chartered Accountants, the Avinashilingam Institute is launching Ph.D. for women members of the ICAI.

The MoU was signed by CA. Subodh Kumar Agrawal, President, ICAI and Dr. Sheela Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor, Avinashilingam Institute in the presence of CA. Vijay Garg, Chairman, Board of Studies, Shri T. Karthikeyan, Secretary, ICAI, and other Central Council Members, ICAI.

For the purpose of registration to Ph.D programme, Chartered Accountancy qualification would be treated as possessing a Post Graduate degree in commerce or allied discipline.

The ICAI and Avinashilingam Institute have also agreed to carry out research jointly for improvement in the pedagogy for the students and to jointly organize seminars on contemporary issues relevant for Commerce, Management and related subjects. To facilitate the quality research & encourage more number of Women CAs to complete the Ph.d degree, the University has customised its regulations in a flexible manner, with virtual contacts & classes yet subscribing to the UGC’s 2009 Regulations for Ph.D.