April 10, 2008
In the world of technology, India has been in the forefront among the developing countries and well at par with many of the developed nations, demonstrating remarkable talent and brain power. The country is fast emerging as the technological superpower of the world which has necessitated the channelization of the immense pool of talents available in the country.
Anticipating this challenge and meeting it head-on with a global outlook and at the same time maintaining the precious Indian traditions and value systems, Aldel Education Trust (headed by Albert W D'Souza, a dynamic, multi-faceted personality with series of achievements under his belt, managing director of Printania Pvt Ltd Mumbai), ventured into the arena of technical education.
In an endeavour to create institutes of specialized learning, embodying the latest development in today's expertise, and to unleash the brain power and creativity of India's young minds, the Trust is setting up two new educational institutions at Palghar in Maharashtra:
St John College of Engineering and Technology
St John Institute of Pharmacy and Research
With an objective to evolve young men and women in to dedicated, knowledgeable and professional individuals with high moral values, Aldel Education Trust aims at all-round development of students therby setting high standards of education through its technical education institutes.
'Serving to Educate' in Palghar
The state of Maharashtra has only four Catholic professional technical institutions of higher learning. Three of them are in the city of Mumbai and one in Nagpur.
The Vasai Diocese is part of an underdeveloped area of Maharashtra. The diocese primarily strives to answer the needs of basic education in its task of human development. It does not have any technical institute of higher learning. In order to answer the need of the diocese for further education, Aldel Education Trust is establishing two new institutes of higher learning. They will cater mainly to rural youth and the economically weaker and marginalized sections of the local population.
St John College of Engineering and Technology and St John Institute of Pharmacy and Research, the two proposed institutions to be launched are in Palghar (Thane district) which is about 80 km north of Borivali (Mumbai), 40 km north of Vasai and 80 km south of Surat. There is a likelihood that Thane district would be bifurcated and Palghar would become its district head-quarters.
The idea for these institutions germinated during a conversation between Albert W D'Souza, chairman of Aldel Education Trust and bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai diocese. Eventually, bishop Dabre laid the foundation stone of the proposed institutions.
Many religious congregations, such as the Bombay Jesuit Province, the Salesian Congregation, the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis and many other prominent educationists in Mumbai and India, have encouraged and pledged to support this endeavour.
The colleges are located in a tranquil and lush green environment. The sprawling college campus is less than one kilometer away from Palghar railway station. National Highway No 8 crosses the Nashik-Palghar state highway in the vicinity.
To ensure that the students have ample space and scope to pursue learning and their co-curricular interests, the colleges will have spacious classrooms, drawing halls, state-of-the-art computer centre, well-equipped laboratories, workshops, libraries, assembly halls, playgrounds and a prayer hall.
Being mainly residential professional colleges, ample space is provided for playgrounds to ensure a holistic environment for the students. Conveyance is provided for local students.
Both colleges will commence functioning from the academic year 2008-09.
The colleges will have minority status which will enable Christian students to seek admission under the minority quota.
St John College of Engineering and Technology
Initially there will be four-year engineering degree courses in:
1. Electronics & Telecommunication
2. Computer Engineering
3. Information Technology
4. Civil Engineering
Each stream will cater to 60 students
St John Institute of Pharmacy and Research
There will be a four-year pharmacy degree course focusing on:
1. Pharmaceutics
2. Pharmaceutical Chemistry
3. Pharmacognosy
4. Pharmacology
Emphasis will be on imparting research-oriented training by providing the best facilities for research.
Aldel Education Trust is driven by the following objectives:
• To establish and maintain minority/non-minority institutions and schools.
• To promote literature, science, engineering, technology, commerce, health services, information technology, the fine arts and agricultural sciences.
• To financially assist in the education of deserving students.
• To provide and facilitate humanitarian, social and cultural activities through its educational activities.
About Founder-chairman Albert W D'Souza
Albert W D'Souza is a dynamic, multi-faceted personality with series of achievements under his belt. Apart from being the advisory board member of technical and professional higher education to the Archdiocesan Board of Education, Mumbai, he is the executive committee member of and instrumental in establishing:
• St Francis Institute of Technology, Borivli
• St Francis Institute of Management and Research, Borivli
• Don Bosco Institute of Technology, Kurla
• St Joseph Engineering College, Mangalore
• St Joseph Institute of Management and Research, Mangalore
• Xavier Institute of Engineering, Mahim
• Xavier Institute of Management and Research, Fort, Mumbari
He is also the advisory board member of Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, Karuna Hospital, Borivli, and Holy Spirit Hospital, Andheri.
He has been rendering his valuable services in various capacities namely, as chairman of Model Cooperative Bank Ltd, Mumbai, vice-chairman of Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mumbai, nominated member of the Catholic Council of India (CCI) and as ex-president of Lions Club of Bhimanagar, Mumbai.
Apart from that, he is the managing director of Printania Offset Pvt Ltd, a world-class printing and publishing firm (Printania is well-known for for printing and publishing church literature, Bibles, hymnals, lectionaries etc), Aldel Sales Corporation Pvt Ltd, Print Processors Pvt Ltd and Brisk Instrumentation Pvt Ltd
He has been awarded the Rachana Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 2003 and the Papal Award for Printing Entrepreneurship, March 2004 in recognition of his numerous achievements.
For more details contact Aldel Education Trust:
Email: aldeleducation@rediffmail.com
Tel: 0091-22-32683292
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