Manipal Institute of Technology Alumni meet

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 19 Dec 2012; The Silver Union Meet of the alumni of Manipal Institute of Technology on Sunday at the Library auditorium was memorable for several reasons. Most important among them was the magnanimity of an alumnus, a civil engineering graduate of 1987 batch, MrFaizal E Kottikollon’s announcement of a contribution of $ 1 million for upgradation of research facilities in the department.

The alumni have been doing yeoman service to Manipal University in many ways and this gesture is one which will surely do a world of good to the department in particular and the university as a whole. Vice chancellor, Dr K Ramnarayan acknowledged that while inaugurating the meet and thanked the former students for their contribution towards the growth of the University and hoped they would continue to do so in future as well.

 

Dr K.Jagannath, Associate Director, Alumni, Public and International relations, presented the report of alumni cell activities. He requested all alumni to register in the University website to receive the E-news published quarterly by the alumni cell,to enable them to keep abreast of the institute’s activities and the achievements of faculty, staff and students.
“Manipal University is truly proud of its alumni,” said Dr Jagannath. “And this gesture from MrFaizal, founder and chairman of UAE-based KEF Holdings is invaluable for us,” he added. Mr. Faizal is a visionary industrialist and philanthropist. He was able to put UAE on the world map for manufacturing of industrial valves and steel castings by developing original technology at the Emirates Techno Casting foundry which, incidentally, was the first such integrated manufacturing unit in the Middle East. ETC was ranked amongst the top three most technologically advanced foundries in the world and KEF Holdings was created as a parent company to Mr. Faizal’s group of companies.

The KEF Company Ltd. is now setting up a number of projects in the Infrastructure, Healthcare, Education, Hospitality, Agricultural and Sports sectors in the UAE and in India and has announced an initial investment of over AED 1 billion to develop these verticals.The company is investing in state-of-the art projects including establishing a precast manufacturing unit inKerala, a 500-bed, research-oriented, super-specialty hospital in Calicut, Kerala, a luxury, 5-star, Hotel Resort and Spa in Calicut, a liberal arts and sciences University in Mangalore, Karnataka and an elite, professional tennis academy in Dubai, UAE.
Dr Vinod V. Thomas, Director, MIT Manipal presented MIT Manipal through the years starting from inception. Four alumni from 1987 batch are awarded the “Distinguished alumnus award”. They are;MrFaizal E. Kottikollon ,DrNarasimhaBhat, MrParasuram and MrDipankarChoudhury.

Three teaching and two non-teaching faculty were felicitated. Two alumni of the 1962 batch for whom it was the Golden Union Meet were also felicitated and one alumnus of the first outgoing batch of 1960, Mr George Eapen was also felicitated.
In a gesture of gratitude the 1987 silver union batch of alumni felicitated 34 faculty and three non-teaching staff who were present during those days.  Dr Deepak Bajaj, alumnus of 1987 batch spoke on behalf of the silver union batch and recalled his days at MIT and thanked all teachers for shaping their future.