Indian university alumni rally to support disadvantaged students in becoming UAE successes

Alumni of one of India’s oldest universities aims to find jobs for top-ranking, underprivileged students in fields such as accounting, retail, banking and engineering in the UAE.

DUBAI // Alumni of one of India’s oldest universities aims to find jobs for top-ranking but underprivileged students in fields including accounting, retail, banking and engineering in the UAE.

JMI Alumni UAE, an old boys network of Jamia Millia Islamia, will also encourage merit students to study for higher postgraduate degrees and better their chances of finding employment.

An official announcement on Friday in Dubai was expected to be attended by more than 600 alumni from across the UAE.

“Nobody will give you a job, it has to be your personal effort but we can support them,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad Ansari, an executive director of a leading bank.

“We don’t want them to struggle like we struggled but want to provide a platform where they will have guidance available. Students who are financially weak, we want to support them to do further qualifications like CA, CFA, MBA qualifications (Chartered Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst and Master of Business Administration). I’m also from a small town in India and my seniors guided me to do my masters and accounting.”

The former Jamia students said they often individually helped put job seekers in touch with people looking to hire but this would be a collective effort.

There are plans for an online forum where newcomers can enrol and register with the alumni network. The UAE alumni will stay in touch with deans at the Indian university to pick deserving students for job placements.

Support will also be provided for visas, temporary accommodation in the UAE and preparing attractive CVs (curriculum vitae).

Once the new recruit finds a good job, he will return the amount spent on his living and travel expenses so the revolving fund can be used to benefit others.

“If you help one person find a job, you are helping one entire family and as a group we can work together,” said Syed Nadeem Zaidi, owner of Noor Optical Group, which has nine outlets in the UAE and one in India.

“Some people don’t have passports so we can help them with this. There is a lot of excitement because it is a very good idea. There are so many people who come here searching for a job. They don’t know where to get a SIM card, they don’t have a telephone. We will advice them on good opportunities, help organise their CV. They need all kinds of support.”

Established in 1920, Jamia Millia is a university in India’s capital, New Delhi. Ranked among the country’s top 20 universities, it is well known for its engineering and technology faculties.

The university’s vice chancellor, Talat Ahmad, attended the Friday alumni event.

“Our objective was that it should not just be dinner parties, it’s time for us to give back and help people,” said Parvez Siddiqui, an active member of the JMI Alumni UAE, who works in the telecoms industry.

“We would like to bring everybody together. On an average, I receive 50 CVs per month and try to do my best to help but this will give it a structured setting and guide them within the business fraternity.”