Jeddah: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Vice-Chancellor Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Zameeruddin Shah on Monday said the university administration is planning separate hostel facility for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) students in order to attract them and to make available to them a "higher standard of living".
"We are trying to attract NRI students. I think the factor that acts as a deterrent is we don't have an NRI hostel. Now I am aware that NRI students are used to a higher standard of living and the present scale of accommodation really would not suit them", he said while talking to Saudi Gazette.
The vice-chancellor also said there is no legal hurdle for generating funds from NRIs. He said the hostel will be built using the AMU Alumni Funds
"The AMU Alumni Fund has got all the clearance. It is directly under the vice chancellor. It is managed by the pro-vice chancellor and the registrar. All contributions are acknowledged and put on the website. The expenditure too will be put on the website. All of this will be open for the alumni to examine, so there will be total transparency," he added.
"The central grant is enough to keep your head above the water. We have received a special grant of Rs150 crores (Rs1,500 million) from the government this year. But if we are going to march forward we need an immense infusion of funds," he said.
Highlighting the problems of Gulf NRIs, who lack proper higher education avenues for their children in their countries of work, Shah said, "I quite understand the problem. There are children of blue collar workers who are deserving but certainly cannot pay the NRI fee. I am going to have another look at this. I think we need to reexamine it.
"We can have a sort of a sliding scale depending on the income of the NRI parents. A sliding scale would be more practical. But reducing the fees totally to what the students in India are paying will deprive AMU of a lot of funds which the NRIs are contributing", he said.
Shah also acknowledged that NRIs have problems of attendance because of iqama-related issues. "We will try and have all payments and all applications online. The request has also come, and we are examining whether we should have one or two examination centers in the Gulf. We are in the process of trying to help our NRIs in whatever way we can", he said.
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