Mumbai varsity to get Rs.100 crore donation from alumni

Updated on: Thursday, August 26, 2010

In the biggest donation ever from one of its alumni, the University of Mumbai will be getting nearly Rs 100 crore, a top official of the varsity said.

Asit Koticha, chairman and founder of the ASK Group, a financial services and investment Group, will build the Convention Centre and a School of Philosophy as per the University's requirements and hand them over to the varsity when ready, the official said.

After the University's recent initiative to approach its alumni for enhancing its infrastructure facilities, the proposal to set up the Rs 100 crore Convention Centre and School of Philosophy was the first and a large proposal, Vice Chancellor Rajan Welukar said.

"We are very happy to receive such a proposal and we are sure more of such offers will come to improve the university's infrastructure," he said.

"We will design and build the infrastructure as per the requirements of the University and Mumbai city," Koticha told.

The 52-year-old financial bigwig, who studied in Podar college affiliated to the varsity, said the initiative was part of his company's corporate social responsibility (CSR).

"A friend of mine who is in the university's department of Philosophy came to me with a proposal for a school of Philosophy following which I went to the VC to discuss about it. When he talked about the need for a convention centre, we thought of making both," Koticha said.

Mumbai, the country's financial centre, badly needs a convention centre as many important conferences were being held elsewhere, he said.

"Already we have made a rough layout and it will be finalised and shown to the university in a couple of weeks," Koticha said.

Mumbai varsity to get Rs.100 crore donation from alumni

More Education news