At the invitation of Fr. Denzil Lobo, SJ, Director  AIMIT,  Ivan Fernandes (MD, Ducont Dubai ) & Charles D'Souza (HR Consultant Emirates NBD, Dubai) , (herein refered to as the 'Team') met to discuss various issues regarding the new campus at Beeri, Mangalore for St. Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology (AIMIT). The various issues discussed during the meeting are highlighted for the benefit of our alumni and well wishers.

The Institute

While St. Aloysius College is located prominently in the heart of Mangalore for over a century, the Jesuit Society in Mangalore scouted for new land and finalized a new location in Beeri a few years back to setup their Management and IT campus named St. Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology (AIMIT).  All the management and IT courses under AIMIT have recently shifted to this new state-of-the-art campus at Beeri (close to Ullal) on the outskirts of Mangalore. The Team toured the campus and received first hand information on the progress of the construction works. When fully complete, it would accomodate over a thousand students and faculty members, pursuing courses such MBA, MSc (BioInformatics) and MCA. In the future this institute will also offer consultancy and management development programs.

The Team felt that with excellent infrastructure and quality of education, AIMIT would, in few years time, compete with the best of the academic institutions in India. Discussions with various foreign business and technology institutes especially those based in the United States for a possible tie-up are ongoing.

It is gratifying to note that new campus is likely to be inaugurated next month by none other than the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. This itself speaks for the quality and contribution of St Aloysius College to society and to the development of education in the South Kanara region. Readers would recall that in the year 2004, the Information Technology wing at St Aloysius college was also inaugurated by the then President of India Mr. Abdul P. J. Kalam.

Administrative Block of AIMIT, Phase 1 of campus is almost ready and will be inaugurated by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh

The Team - Ivan Fernandes, Charles D'Souza, and Fr. Denzil Lobo, SJ, discussing strategies at AIMIT premises

The Alumni

While the college has been in existence for well over a century, it basically met the education needs until graduation and hence it was perceived that the college must provide post graduation courses to our students to help them excel in the careers in line with the current needs of industry.  The college has produced tens of thousands of Alumni but unfortunately has not built a strong Alumni network.  The contacts between the Alumni and College has currently been restricted to those few interested Alumni.  However, a few years back initiatives were started to galvanise all the Alumni around the world and soon there will be formal chapters in every location where our Alumni has a significant presence under the proposed parent organization Aloysian Partners International (API). So far Aloysian Partners North America (APNA) and St. Aloysius College Alumni Assocation in Mangalore (SACAA), are the only formal chapters until these will be formally inducted under API.  The Team discussed strategies to setup new and formalise existing Alumni chapters under API in various countries and transform them into a vibrant community for a mutually beneficial relationship. In order to support this initiative a dedicated group would be appointed in Mangalore that will liaise with various chapters. The Team has set a target of  a dozen chapters with a database of 5000 members within the next six months. API over a period of time will build a website to provide information on the progress of the college and its students, profile successful Alumni, release periodic newsletters, assist in networking of Alumni across various geographies, help in finding employment opportunities etc.

Public Relations

The Team felt that it is important for the college to be in the media by highlighting its regular activities. Accordingly, the Team decided to appoint an agency to look into the PR activities of the institute. A series of events will be agreed for the next 12 months starting with the inaugration by the Honorable Prime Minister, and the selected agency will ensure that these would be carried out in right earnest. Activities will include articles on the print and online media, television and radio. Such initiatives will not only help in branding AIMIT but also bring our beautiful city of Mangalore into national and international prominence.

Business Plan

Professional management is core to the Insitute’s ethos. The Team discussed the necessity and importance of a business plan and a feasibility study done by an independent authority of international repute. The study would help in reaffirming the goals and plans of the institute and come up with various strategies for its success such as curriculum, branding, governance and financial models for fees and funding.

In order to setup a world class Institute, one needs to take up a ‘big bang’ approach. The construction of the campus has been broken into 2 phases with a overall budget of around INR 60 crores. The Team discussed the current financial situation to achieve this objective In order to complete the 1st Phase of this campus, the total cost is estimated at around INR 27 crores, the contributions received until now only amount to around INR 3 crores.  INR 7 crores has been ploughed into this project through internal accruals by the Jesuits.  The Insititute has been compelled to borrow over INR 17 crores for completion of the 1st Phase on which it incurs Bank interest of around INR 2 crores per annum. On account of this high Bank interest, the total working capital of the Institute increases 100%. There have been a few pledges which have not translated into revenue as of now.  The Team hopes with the updated business plan, it would bring out additional strategies for donations from Alumni as well as well-wishers in addition to grants from individuals and corporate houses including interest free loans to complete this project

Advisory Board

The success of every institution is dependent on successful indivuduals providing support and direction by being part of the Advisory Board.  AIMIT with its objective of being one of the top 10 Institutes in the country also needs to have a strong Advisory Board considering that it has several prominent Alumni who deserve to be on this board.  Several names of successful Alumni were discussed and the management will contact them to get their nod to be on the Advisory Board which will direct the management in achieving it objectives.  

Conclusion

Father Denzil Lobo SL, who is the Director of this Institue has been tirelessly working to create a world class Institute to benefit our younger generation in and around Mangalore. Although the goals are to build a world class Institute, it cannot be realised without the support of our Alumni, well-wishers and corporate with social responsibilities.. With a distinguished advisory board, an engaged faculty, bright students together external well wishers, this dream will come true. After all this is OUR Project and most significant for our beautifical city in recent times.

This article has been written by Charles D’Souza. Although he is not at alum of St Aloysius College he strongly believes the potential impact the AIMIT can play towards the economic development of the city and mangalorean society in general.