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Ahmedabad: State chief minister Bhupendra Patel is expected to launch Gujarat University ’s ‘Gujarat Alumni Connect’ portal and a collection of 139 rare books at the concluding ceremony of the national conference on ‘Coastal Ecology, Security and Sustainability’ on Sep 11 and 12. They said that during former vice-chancellor M N Patel’s tenure in 2015-16, GU had set up an alumni association and prepared its constitution.
The portal’s proposed launch, however, has raised questions as a similar alumni body had been formed nearly a decade ago, sources said. The event will be inaugurated by Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai . A syndicate member was reportedly assigned responsibility for the initiative, with a separate office and website planned. Membership fees for students and faculty members were also decided. This association remained largely inactive after organising only two programmes — Navratri celebrations and a marathon. Its present status is also unclear.
Against this backdrop, the announcement of a fresh alumni portal launch has triggered debate over whether the earlier initiative is being reintroduced as a new project.