Date:20/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/20/stories/2008012055440500.htm

National

AMU to confer honorary degrees

Staff Reporter

Convocation to be held in March

APJ Abdul Kalam, Azim Premji, Ratan Tata, M. S. Swaminathan to be honoured

ALIGARH: Aligarh Muslim University has decided to confer an honorary degree on former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Wipro chief Azim Premji, renowned industrialist Ratan Tata and eminent agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan at its annual Convocation to be held in March.

The Executive Council of the University took the decision to confer D.Litt./ D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) on the four luminaries. The exact date of the Convocation will be notified after getting the consent of the Visitor of the University, President Pratibha Patil.

New test centres

The Council has also given its approval for opening four test centres in Bhopal, Calicut, Kolkata and Pune for holding admission tests for MBBS, BDS, B.Tech., B.Arch., MBA and diploma in engineering from the coming academic year. “This has been done to ensure wider representation of the States across the country and strengthen the all-India character of the University,” said an official release.

The Council has also unanimously agreed in principle to establish four AMU centres of study across the country under Section 12 (2) of the AMU Act.

“The commencement of these study centres depends on clearance and funding from the Union Government. The Council has taken this decision in view of its objectives to work for the educational advancement of Muslims of India under 5 (2) (c) of the AMU Act,” the release added. The Executive Council meeting was chaired by Vice-Chancellor P. K. Abdul Azis. The Council has also decided to approach Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati to withdraw a notification regarding the abolition of the Zamindari Act affecting several properties of the University.

A proposal to hold a “World Summit of AMU Alumni" next October was also sanctioned. “The summit would provide an opportunity to interact with teachers and students and to raise sufficient funds for creating international research fellowships and collaborative research projects between AMU, other universities and industry from around the world,” said a University spokesperson.

It was also decided that “Sir Syed International Award” would be given on “Sir Syed Day 2008” to be observed by AMU on October 17.