GMU Global Alumni Summit 2024 Unveils '25 GMU Icons' Coffee Table Book
Ajman: United Arab Emirates (Press Release): The Gulf Medical University (GMU) Global Alumni Summit 2024 concluded on a high-note, bringing together over 400 alumni from around the world for an evening of celebration, collaboration, and inspiration. The highlight of the event was the launch of the Coffee Table Book, ‘25 Icons: Gulf Medical University Alumni Shaping Global Healthcare,’ a tribute to alumni who have made significant contributions to the health professions industry.Held at Marriott Hotel (Dubai), the summit featured a dynamic agenda that showcased the achievements and contributions of GMU alumni in the field of healthcare.
With approximately 4,000 graduates representing 95 nationalities, Gulf Medical University (GMU) boasts a diverse alumni community, and members residing and practicing across the world. Annually, the GMU Alumni Summit serves as an important platform, drawing accomplished professionals together to nurture collaboration and delve into initiatives that address their shared needs. The event, marked by the insightful welcome address by Dr. Omar Nabi, President of the Alumni Association Board, and Prof. Hossam Hamdy's remarks, emphasizing GMU's commitment to a robust alumni community, also featured Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, as the chief guest.
Speaking about the summit, Dr. Thumbay Moideen, highlighted: “We are very proud of the accomplishments of our alumni, and happy to see them succeed in their career as health professionals. The university shall always support them in their endeavors.”
Gulf Medical University, meanwhile, is launching a global initiative to establish alumni chapters in key regions like the UK, Europe, the US, Africa, and Southeast Asia. These chapters will serve as networking, mentorship, and collaboration hubs, encouraging its global alumni to engage and contribute to the university's stature.
Addressing the former students, Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University said, “We are proud to see the professional achievements and growth of our university’s students. The breadth of participation made the gathering remarkable and special; GMU’s alumni are the brand ambassadors of our core values and recognizing their contribution is crucial to the progress of the institute and the development of its current students.”
He added, “Alumni meets help in developing a platform to showcase the institution’s growth, strengthening the relation between the university and its graduates, who have excelled in their careers.”
Providing a tangible tribute to their collective journey, the Coffee Table Book launch showcased the diverse accomplishments of the alumni, which featured 25 icons, adding a moment of pride and honor to the evening. The Alumni Panel Discussion that followed was a dynamic exchange of ideas, featuring well-known alumni who shared their perspectives on current healthcare challenges and opportunities. The interactive session facilitated valuable insights and discussions on the future of health professions industry, locally and globally.
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Citizens’ Collective launches national campaign, urges EC to ensure electoral transparency
New Delhi: A collective of concerned citizens, civil society organisations, and technical experts has launched a nationwide campaign for accountability in the electoral process, raising serious concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the lack of transparency in the conduct of elections.
Coordinated by the platform ‘Vote for Democracy,’ the group has submitted a detailed memorandum to the ECI, reiterating six key demands aimed at restoring public faith in the electoral system. The memorandum comes in the wake of mounting scepticism around the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and allegations of procedural manipulation, particularly after recent elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi.
Among the central questions posed in the memorandum are:
- Why are the complete past and present voters’ lists not available in a searchable database on the ECI website?
- Why are Forms 17C, which record the number of votes polled, and other aggregate voter count data not publicly accessible in a digital format?
- Why is there no transparency in publishing Forms 9, 10, 11, 11A, and 11B that document additions and deletions in the voter rolls?
- Why is the EVM source code not open for public inspection to ensure software integrity?
- Why is there no full disclosure of Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) contents with oversight from independent technical experts?
- Why are VVPAT slips not counted in their entirety, and why can voters not verify and deposit the slips themselves?
The group has termed India’s current electronic voting system as semi-automated and riddled with vulnerabilities, demanding immediate systemic reforms. The six specific demands include:
1. Making all voter rolls—past and present—searchable and publicly accessible online.
2. Publishing Form 17C data from each booth and constituency in a searchable format.
3. Releasing Forms 9, 10, 11, 11A, and 11B detailing voter roll revisions.
4. Making the EVM source code open-source for public and expert scrutiny.
5. Publishing SLU contents and allowing monitoring by independent technical experts.
6. Restoring the integrity of the voting process by allowing voters to physically verify and deposit their VVPAT slips, followed by 100% slip counting. Final vote tallies, they argue, should be based solely on these physical paper records.
The memorandum, endorsed by 83 prominent individuals including former civil servants, judges, computer scientists, journalists, and grassroots activists, highlights concerns over the increasing opacity in electoral procedures. Among the signatories are MG Devasahayam, former IAS and Army officer; computer science experts Madhav Deshpande and Professor Harish Karnick; Justice D. Hariparanthaman and Justice B.G. Kolse Patil (retired High Court judges); Aruna Roy (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan); Venkatesh Nayak (CHRI); Anjali Bhardwaj; E.A.S. Sarma, IAS (Retd); Teesta Setalvad; Prashant Tandon; and Raju Parulekar.
The signatories cited a recent CSDS survey that shows only 28% of Indians trust the ECI today, indicating serious democratic backsliding. They criticised the Commission’s perceived closeness to the political executive and its reluctance to act against violations of the Model Code of Conduct, including hate speech during elections.
During a recent three-hour national consultation with people’s organisations and civil society groups, participants highlighted the urgent need for systemic reform and greater transparency. State-wide consultations with expert committees are expected to follow.
Participants raised serious concerns over the integrity of voter rolls. In Maharashtra alone, 37 lakh new voters were reportedly added in the five months leading up to elections, without a credible explanation from the ECI. Similar concerns about large-scale voter additions and deletions have been flagged in states like Haryana, Delhi, and West Bengal.
The campaign aims to create national consensus around the need to replace EVMs with paper ballots, citing growing public mistrust. It seeks to address all facets of electoral conduct, from the misuse of the Model Code to the manipulation of voter lists, demanding a level playing field for all political actors.
The memorandum calls on the Election Commission to open itself to dialogue with citizens, technical experts, and political stakeholders. It warns that continued silence or inaction will deepen the erosion of public confidence in India’s democratic institutions.
The nationwide campaign is being led by several prominent voices including MG Devasahayam (Citizens Commission on Elections) and Teesta Setalvad (Vote for Democracy). A detailed programme outlining the next steps of the campaign is expected to be released shortly.
