Aligarh
Summer
University
Program: The Original Concept
Over the years,
Aligarh
has produced many excellent students who left for advanced studies abroad
and have attained varying degrees of distinction in their chosen fields.
These alumni who are now working in foreign Universities, government
institutions and industry represent a valuable, but untapped, reservoir of
expertise that can be put to great use for
Aligarh
students. There is also the problem (that may not be so obvious to
non-University people) that fewer and fewer
Aligarh
graduates are able to enter, and successfully complete, graduate or other
professional programs in western Universities.
As alumni, we can help students currently studying at
Aligarh
by organizing a
Summer
University
. Individual alumni who hold advanced degrees from North American or
European
Universities
could come forward to offer their services to give short, 2-week courses
in their area of expertise as part of the
Summer
University
at
Aligarh
. The contents of the courses would be left entirely to the Professors,
but the areas should be relevant and modern, preferably those that are not
being covered adequately at
Aligarh
. In addition to its educational value, the
Summer
University
would also provide an effective mechanism for young students to interact
with these alumni and thus open new doors of opportunity for them. The
Summer
University
would not, in any way, duplicate the regular teaching activity of the
University and should not be perceived as a threat by any one. If you
agree that this is a useful exercise, there are several ways in which you
can help:
1.
Volunteer Professors: We need qualified alumni from overseas who
would be willing to participate in teaching these courses. Since we have
no funds at the moment, they should be prepared to cover their travel and
accommodation expenses themselves. (I may add that most Universities in
North America and
Europe
have funds available for such purposes.)
2. Local Organizing
Committee: Success of this program will depend on active involvement of the
local alumni. We will need help with the following: e-mail communications;
diplomatic liaison with the University administrators for making lecture
rooms and teaching facilities available; accommodation for visiting
professors (in the Guest House etc); enrolment of students; and planning
for social activities for the 2-week duration of the
Summer
University
.
Summer
Universities are great fun. It has very beneficial effects on young minds,
opens their horizons, and the instructors also enjoy it immensely. Other
alumni who happen to be present in
Aligarh
at that time would be welcome to enjoy the social activities that would be
planned with the
Summer
University
. So, if you are planning a visit to
Aligarh
, you could adjust the dates accordingly: it could be a great alumni
reunion too!
Please
contact me if you are interested in supporting this program. Thank you.
Asad
Ahmed, Ph.D. (
Aligarh
), Ph.D. (Yale)
Professor
Emeritus,
University
of
Alberta
Phone/Fax
at 1-780-449-6059
Click here to Email
