Rama Krishna Sangem
104 year old Osmana University (OU) is readying for a two day Global Alumni Meet (GAM) on January 3, Tuesday and January 4, Wednesday. Around 2,00o old students of OU are invited to this one of its kind event in recent times, titled as “Connect 2 Reconnect”. Of the invited, as many as 1,000 alumni members have registered their names and some are likely by Jan 3.
Speaking to Excel India, OU Vice Chancellor Prof D Ravinder said: “The main objective of this GAM is to bring together Osmania University’s alumni spread all over the world and harness their best brains and talent to mentoring this great varsity”. Prof Ravinder who took over close to two years ago has made elaborate arrangements for this prestigious gathering on the campus.
Till now, different departments of OU have been separately conducting alumni meetings on different dates. But this is the first time, the entire varsity’s old students called to meet at one time, from across the world. OU has a checkered history of ups and downs over a century, but never lost its sheen, thanks to the indomitable institutional spirit. It’s science, engineering and technology departments have produced several students who shine at the global level.
CSR, Branding Directorate
Prof Ravinder who toured the US recently prepared the ground for the GAM. After meeting several old students of OU who are in top positions in big corporate companies, has set up a new CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), Alumni and Branding directorate (CAB) in the varsity. He started a not for profit organisation – Osmania Foundation, for availing Income Tax exemptions, under Section 8 of the Act. .
This paves way for alumni members contributing their mite for the development of OU at various levels. Though there is no specific target for this, sources say, at least Rs 1 crore has already reached the varsity. Some more donations will come in the coming days. These funds will help promote basic research facilities in various departments which are funds starved now.
Tagore Auditorium will be the main venue. Registrar Prof P Laxminarayana along with Prof B Reddya Naik, OSD to VC is the director of newly created Osmania Foundation, while Prof P Raja Sekhar is the director of the CAB, and Dr Dr Nazia Sultana and Dr K ECh Vidyasagar are the coordinators of CAB. There are various other committees for each activity.
Down Memory lanes
Prof Ravinder set up 15 committees for organizing this GAM. The alumni members will be engaged at two levels in the two days. Besides joining some brainstorming sessions at their department or college level, the old students will participate in some common meetings. They will also be dined at their respective hostel messes taking them down their memory lanes. A detailed merchandise sale of key chains, bags etc too is arranged at GAM
