Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will organize its World Alumni Summit on October 18-19, 2008.

Vice-President of India, Mr. M. Hamid Ansari will be the chief guest on this occasion.

Vice Chancellor Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis said, "The idea behind this historic meet is to provide a platform for a memorable reunion with thousands of our alumni spread all over the globe and to establish a permanent AMU Alumni Foundation as a perpetual facility for the old boys to maintain links with their alma mater. It would enable them to participate in its continued growth and glory".

"This meeting and reunion of Alumni would be an excellent forum to interact with present students and faculty members, technical collaboration in projects, academic collaboration to support advanced research projects in their respective fields, modernizing laboratories and setting up high quality lecture theatres, digital libraries and an International Hostel for the children of AMU Alumni", he further said.

In order to encourage increased participation in the forthcoming World Alumni Summit, Prof. Azis recently held a series of meetings with the chairmen of various varsity departments.

He visited 12 faculties of the university and discussed the progress made relating to the preparations and plan they had for the summit.

The VC visited the Faculties of Law, Management, Commerce, Science, Life Science, Theology, Arts, Social Science, Unani Medicine, Engineering and Medicine.

The chairmen shared their ideas of receiving alumni in their departments and presenting them the ways and means of seeking cooperation in the overall development of their departments and the university.

Prof. Azis expressed dissatisfaction with the present registration status in most of the departments. The chairmen were, however, hopeful of receiving good response in due course of time and promised to accelerate their efforts.

The chairmen of most departments have taken a stand to appeal their colleagues to contribute at least one day's salary to meet the Summit expenses.

Prof. Javaid Akhter, organizing secretary who accompanied the Vice-Chancellor in all these meetings, said that students' involvement is also being sought through various means including through posters and said that a meeting is proposed to be held with the students soon.

He further informed that till date over 200 registrations have been received from the AMU alumni from across the world.