The Hindu : New Delhi News : Columbia ropes in alumni to extend family in India

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Thursday, Jan 11, 2007
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Columbia ropes in alumni to extend family in India

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Columbia University is trying its best to reach out to its "desi" alumni. While most students are nostalgic about the time spent out there, the University is hoping to go beyond just organising happy reunions. Looking to strengthen bonds with its former students, it wants to continue this relationship but in a slightly different way.

With old students serving as ambassadors for their alma mater, Columbia University is hoping to rope them in to extend the "Columbia family" in India. A new initiative by the University, this is the second time that faculty members have come calling to India to meet its alumni.

"All private universities depend heavily on their alumni. There seems to be no tradition of alumni clubs outside North America, which is very active, and some in Europe. In India, there was a club that was formed about 10 years ago in Mumbai. India is one of the few countries we are concentrating on in this initiative," said Nicholas B. Dirks, vice-president for Arts and Sciences at the University, who was here in the Capital this past week.

With more than 7 per cent of international students coming from the subcontinent, the University is trying to increase this figure. "The University wants to increase visibility as a destination for undergraduate studies. We have not recruited many students at an undergraduate level as yet," said Prof. Dirks.

Despite last year seeing the best undergraduate enrolment at the University, the numbers are still small. And the biggest obstacle for students at the undergraduate level is finding financial support. While the University is trying to do its best to extend financial support to students through fellowships, students coming to study at the undergraduate level still need to find ways to fund their education.

"If we want to increase the number of students at the undergraduate level, the alumni will have to do something about resources," he said.

Among the oldest institutions of higher learning in America, Columbia University ranks as one of top places for students to study. With a varied number of options for students to study from, its journalism programme seems to be a favourite with Indian students. Keeping with its tradition of giving its students food for thought, Columbia University along with the Columbia University Club of India organised a panel discussion in Mumbai on Tuesday that looked at some of the huge challenges facing India. Bringing in big names from the academic world of the University, the panel discussion focused on "India in an Era of Rapid Urbanisation: Challenges Facing Infrastructure, Resources and Housing".

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