Alumni Involvement in decision making is the way ahead
In February 2014, The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressed the Conference of Vice Chancellors of Central Universities (CUs) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In this conference the president advised MHRD, UGC and the CUs to sit together and take action to improve the governance system and structures. He also requested them to engage their alumni in the governance of Universities. He further called upon the MHRD and CUs to prepare a data-base of alumni who can be involved in the governance of CUs.
In September 2014, HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s two-day meet with Vice-Chancellors of 39 central universities was focused on bringing greater professionalism in the management of these universities including outlining the role of alumni in their development and management. The HRD ministry felt the need to stress on a strong alumni network for central universities after observing their benefits in the IITs and IIMs. Therefore, the meet discussed ways to strengthen alumni networks, institutionalise a structure for it and create an exhaustive database of them.
Since then every Conference of Vice Chancellors of Central Universities included Alumni Involvement as a part of the agenda. While some universities took steps to involve alumni in decision making, some are still finding ways to do the same. Recently, Hyderabad Central University elected one alumni each to it’s Academic and Executive Councils.
Vaave has continuously endorsed the involvement of Alumni in decision making. Alumni have the potential to significantly transform the way learning is being imparted and the way educational institutions are being run. Having studied in the same institution, alumni can suggest changes to the curriculum that will make students industry ready. Alumni can mentor current students and help them achieve their truest potential. Alumni can also mobilize fellow alumni to be a part of making the institution better. And coming from notable positions, they also bring many years of experience from various fields to the table which will play a significant role in helping the institutions take the leap forward. Vaave has been built keeping in mind all these valuable interactions.
We hope that more and more institutions realize and leverage the potential of their alumni networks. And we wish to empower all of them build strong and thriving alumni networks through Vaave.
Sources:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=103123
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/smriti-to-meet-39-v-cs-role-of-alumni-tops-agenda/
