Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ameer Ahamed, Chairman of Agnice Fire Protection Limited, Chennai for construction of a new institutional complex for Faculty of Management studies and Research at AMU.

The University has earmarked a piece of land measuring three acres for the said purpose.

Ameer Ahamed is an alumnus of AMU and did his MBA in 1978. The new Management Complex shall be envisaged to be built mostly on the funds to be raised by the AMU alumni and its well-wishers.

The proposed complex would have state-of-the-art facilities conforming to the Indo-Islamic heritage architecture.

AMU Faculty of Management Studies and Research Complex is intended to be a preferred center of excellence for management education in India as well as a center for human resources development for the university faculty, non-teaching staff and students in general as a finishing school to enhance their skill to match with the international standards.

The University expects the project to be completed within a period of two years from the initial approval of the project from the statutory authorities of the University. The project shall be implemented by a committee consisting of professionals from various walks of life to be proposed by Ameer Ahamed in consultation with AMU.

Addressing the function, AMU Vice Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis said, "During the World Summit of AMU Alumni in 2008, Ameer Ahamed had shown his desire to be a major sponsor of the management complex and had contributed a personal contribution of rupees one crore and handed over a cheque of twenty five lakhs at the time of the Alumni Summit.

Professor Azis said that AMU Alumni have resources both intellectual and financial. He said that AMU needs high quality of faculty members to AMU centers in Malappuram and Murshidabad and spirit of Aligarh should be transplant in these centers.

While welcoming the prominent alumnus, AMU Registrar VK Abdul Jaleel said that today is a historic moment for the Faculty of Management Studies. "Mr. Ahamed has shown great generosity and we appreciate his sentiments and efforts to their alma matter," he said.

Thanking the Vice Chancellor, Ameer Ahamed said, "AMU is not just a university but a spirit and AMU Alumni are spreading all over the globe. AMU should be brushing up their system to create an institution of excellence and intellectual transformation."

Other who attended the occasion included Prof. Javed Akhtar, Dean, Faculty of Management Studies and Prof. Khalid Azam, Chairman of the Department.