Vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) in Arunachal Pradesh, Prof. Saket Kushwaha, on Saturday said alumni are the brand-ambassadors of the institution they graduated from.
Prof Kushwaha said this during the inaugural session of the Social Work Alumni Meet 2020 organized online through digital platform.
“A strong and a positive relationship with the alumni can benefit the institution socially, academically & professionally and vice-versa,” highlighted Prof Amitava Mitra, pro-vice chancellor during the inaugural session.
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With these opening remarks, the Department of Social Work, RGU conducted first of its kind Online Social Work Alumni Meet, 2020 on the theme Alumni and Educational Institution: A Symbiotic Relationship incorporating a total of hundred participants approximately from previous and current batches.
The alumni meet was organized through online mode due to the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The keynote speaker of the day Prof Gracious Thomas, director, School of Social Work, Delhi, IGNOU deliberated upon, ‘Roadmap to Professional Status of Social Work in Contemporary India: Role of Alumni & Educational Institution’.
Apart from Prof Thomas, the Alumni Meet along with the Social Work Fraternity was attended by esteemed dignitaries of RGU. The meet consisted of four sessions – inaugural, keynote speech, confluence of the alumni with current batches and lastly alumni patronage-collaboration and expansion.
The vice chancellor during his inaugural address called upon the students and alumni to establish a self-sufficient platform and take up more initiatives so as to contribute in near future to the institute without depending totally on the external sources for fund or support.
The significance and role of the alumni in bringing about changes in different part of the world were also shared.
The vice chancellor emphasized on how alumni associations with the institution have helped in constituting perpetual assets at Banaras Hindu University.
Similarly, various state universities at USA and other parts are contributing in the development and evolution of the institution and bringing desired change in the discipline, society and humanity at large through meaningful collaboration with alumni.
The pro-vice chancellor stressed on how such initiative is path-breaking achievement in times of such crisis where physical proximity is totally avoidable and social distancing is a must.
In such a situation, optimum utility of such online platforms in the pursuit to hear from the alumni and current students is replicable.
Prof Mitra also acknowledged the pro-active role of Social Work Department in bringing a change in the society through collaborative efforts of the alumni and the faculties.
