By TCN News,
Aligarh: The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the historic Morehouse College of Atlanta, US and the Aligarh Muslim University in presence of all Deans of the Morehouse College.
Gen. Shah was on a tour of United States to attend the XII Annual Convention of the Federation of AMU Alumni Associations in US. He visited a number of colleges and universities during his brief stay in US and signed Memoranda of Understanding with some prestigious institutions of higher studies to facilitate academic exchange programme.
AMU VC Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah with Morehouse President, Atlanta
Dr. Lawrence Carter, Dean, Martin Luther King Chapel took the visitors to Chapel Library tour consisting of photographic display of non-violent movement against racial discrimination led by Dr. Martin Luther King who was an alumnus of Morehouse College and was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. A sumptuous luncheon fit for a Head of State was hosted at President’s House Dining Room attended by various Deans of the college and officers of Aligarh Alumni Association of Atlanta (AAAA) that included Yasir Nomani, Dr. Asif Taufique, Hasan Kamal, and Umar Farooq. Dr. Wasi Siddiqui representing Morehouse College welcomed the Vice-Chancellor and explained the significance of the occasion.
Gen. Shah in his remarks thanked Morehouse College for the courtesy and hospitality. He unveiled a large marble replica of Taj Mahal as a gift to Morehouse in addition to a brass carving of Strachey Hall to the President. The College President Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, Jr. in turn presented several mementos to Gen. Shah and Mrs. Shah.
Gen. Shah, along with senior AMU alumni residing in Atlanta, Hasan Kamal and Umar Farooq, visited Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2). The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Mustaque Ahamad of College of Computing at Georgia Tech and Dr. Rasheed Ahmad, an Aligarian and Georgia Tech graduate. During the meeting, Mr. Stephen Flemming of EI2 explained the functioning of business incubation, product commercialization and technology transfer. He assured the Vice Chancellor of all help in developing a similar institute on AMU campus.
The Vice Chancellor also met entrepreneurs in the areas of solar technology & new energy sources. He met the President and CEO of the Energy Consulting Group and was explained and presented with a specific Evaluation Report for the Aligarh Muslim University for a potential solar project at Aligarh including solar production, capital costs, surface area requirement for generation, tracking system, maintenance and subsidy etc. The meeting was arranged by Hasan Kamal.
AMU VC Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah with Morehouse College Group, Atlanta
Addressing a get together of about 100 AMU alumni in the presence of Consul General of India, Mr. Ajit Kumar, the Vice Chancellor highlighted the current academic situation in AMU campus and explained his visions and missions for AMU. He said that he was trying to develop a Hockey Academy in Aligarh and construct a golf course which will be first in the country on any university campus. He said that he had brought positive changes in the residential and dining hall facilities as the quality of food was improved to almost military mess standard. The nostalgic “Dunlop” bread had been retired from food menu and the guest houses had been upgraded to international standards.
Gen. Shah said that a new Faculty of International Studies will be established which will act as the direct liaison for Alumni Affairs. The area around University Mosque, Strachey Hall and Lytton Library will be thoroughly revamped and will serve as Convention Center and Museum. He sought alumni’s help in generating funds for 100 smart boards in AMU classrooms. He expressed confidence that AMU will rank number one among Indian universities and in top 200 in the world in two years.
Replying to a question, the Vice Chancellor pointed out that lack of education was the main cause of backwardness of Indian Muslims. He said that he would expand educational opportunities of Madrasa students to AMU. He underlined the various steps taken to improve the Women’ College academic and residential standards.