Report: P A Hameed Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Dammam (SP)

Riyadh, Feb 1: “Education, and professional education in particular that is most compatible and relevant in the competitive world today, is being considered to be a very effective tool now, for getting noticed and for standing out amongst thousands of people in the market, where cutthroat competition exists. What we have studied now is miniscule, while what we still have to learn hereafter is infinite, as learning is a continuous and perpetual process. Nowadays, the distance education programme has become highly popular, as it provides lot of comforts and facilities to the working class as well as the others. Keeping this in mind, Alagappa University has introduced distance education to cater to the growing needs of the people throughout the world, without sacrificing the quality and the high standards of the University,” said Prof Ramaswamy, vice-chancellor of Alagappa University. He was addressing the graduates and the audiences present at the maiden graduation ceremony of the University, held recently,  at Oceana Hotel in Dammam, the horn of eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
 

“Alagappa University, which is based in Tamil Nadu, is one of the few universities in India that has topped the list of the first rate universities recognized and accredited by UGC (University Grant Commission) in India. It is looked upon with respect for maintaining quality and eminence in the field of education, and has brought out scores of professionals, scientists, intellectuals, scholars, academics, business magnates, celebrities and others alike. Apart from the regular courses, the University has taken an ingenious step to launch the online/distance education programmes aimed at meeting the demands of the people in the gulf countries and other parts of the world,” he added.
 
He continued to say,“the University’s distance education programme was first introduced in Bahrain and then in Saudi Arabia in 2006 through the Indian Academy, which has been operating in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. We have been getting tremendous response from the people of different nationalities in Saudi Arabia. As degrees from the University are accredited by the Saudi ministry of higher education, we have an immediate plan to open our branch soon in Riyadh. I wholeheartedly thank the government of Saudi Arabia for its recognition and support.”

Around 50 graduates were conferred with various degrees by the vice-chancellor, which included M Phil, MBA and MCA, at the convocation. The graduates were present at the convocation with their families, colleagues, friends, etc.  Abdul Sattar Hassan, Manchakal, who has been working as the marketting executive for AFI Company in Jubail, and Wafah, who is the daughter of Noor Mohammad Sullia and grand daughter of the late Abdul Gaffar Sullia, a renowned scholar and writer, are the two Mangaloreans who received their MBA (Marketting) and B Com degree, respectively. Dhanalakshmi, headmistress of the Indian International School in Dammam, was conferred with the M Phil (mathematics) degree. Medals were also presented to those who came out with flying colours in their respective academic courses.
 
Ela Murugan, director of the Indian Academy, who was present at the dais, spoke on the occasion. Ravi Karkera, a Mangalorean, who has been working for NESMA Company in Al-Khobar, and who had patronized some of the Academy’s students for internship in his company, was given an appreciation and recognition on the day. Mohammad Ataullah Khan, marketting and export supervisor of AET & Shipping Ltd., Dammam, Ayub Mohammed Ghouse, technical sales of WEIR Oil & Gas Co., AL-Khobar, who were the main pioneers and initiators to bring the Academy to Dammam, Daijiworld Saudi correspondent and advocate,  P A Hameed Padubidri, and Masood  from the Academy were also present at the ceremony.