Thumbay Moideen Conferred Honorary Doctorate at Amity University Dubai’s Annual Convocation
Dubai: Mr. Thumbay Moideen, the Founder President of Dubai-based global conglomerate Thumbay Group, was conferred an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Science) at the annual convocation ceremony of Amity University – Dubai, on 20th November 2017. The doctorate was awarded in the presence of distinguished dignitaries, students, teachers and parents.
An official statement by Amity University Dubai said that Mr. Thumbay Moideen was being conferred the honor in view of his “significant contributions towards promotion of medical education, trade and industry, and social and economic development of the nation.” Commenting on Amity University’s decision to honor Mr. Thumbay Moideen, Dr. Ajit Kumar Nagpal - Chairman of Amity PACIFIC Forum said, “Mr. Moideen’s contributions to the nation, especially in the fields of medical education, healthcare and research have been remarkable. As a University that values the spirit of innovation and excellence, we endeavor to recognize individuals like him.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Thumbay Moideen expressed his gratitude to Amity University Dubai for awarding the doctorate. “Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of transforming lives through education and healthcare, strengthen communities and contribute to the growth and progress of the nation. I owe my success to God Almighty, the support of the government, and my team. This recognition will inspire me to do more in driving positive change,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address as the Guest of Honor of the convocation ceremony, Mr. Moideen inspired the graduates and students of Amity University Dubai with his words of wisdom. Recounting the success story of Thumbay Group, he urged the students to “dream big” and to focus on their goals. He added that he is in the continuous process of learning from his experiences, from each new venture he undertook. “True success is when an individual gives back to society and makes a difference to people’s lives,” he reminded the graduates, adding, “It is important for you as young professionals to be motivated by success, but at the same time, you must uphold the values of humility, ethicality and transparency.”
About Mr. Thumbay Moideen
Mr. Thumbay Moideen is the Founder President of Thumbay Group, a diversified international conglomerate headquartered at DIFC - Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Starting with the establishment of Thumbay Group in 1998, he has set up business operations in 20 sectors. Today, the Group has activities in Education, Healthcare, Medical Research, Diagnostics, Retail Pharmacy, Health Communications, Retail Optical, Wellness, Nutrition Stores, Hospitality, Real Estate, Publishing, Technology, Media, Events, Medical Tourism, Trading and Marketing & Distribution.
Thumbay Group today employs close to 5000 people, which is projected to increase to around 25000 by the year 2022, with the completion of ongoing and upcoming projects. The Thumbay chain of hospitals, the constituent teaching hospitals of the Gulf Medical University are one of the largest healthcare services providers in the UAE, serving patients from over 175 nationalities. The Gulf Medical University (GMU) which is one of the leading private medical universities in the Middle East region, attracts a student cohort of 80 nationalities and faculty and staff from over 25 countries. Currently, Thumbay Group is focusing on its strategic long-term plans which will see the group scale its businesses almost ten times and expand its operations globally. The Group plans to build three more international campuses in the next five years. This is in addition to the plans to expand the chain of academic hospitals to 15 worldwide by 2022, with a total capacity of 1000 beds in the UAE, 1500 beds in India and 750 beds elsewhere in the Gulf and in Africa. The group also plans to expand specialized retail outlets.
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Over 760 private schools shut down in 5 years amid 'rigid norms', 'harassment' in Bengaluru: Report
Bengaluru: In a concerning trend for the city's education sector, at least 762 private schools in Bengaluru have closed down over the past five years, a staggering 26 percent of those granted permission to operate, according to government data.
Between 2019-20 and 2023-24 academic years, the Department of School Education and Literacy gave the green signal to start 2,905 private unaided schools, of which 762 closed down.
The data, as cited by Deccan Herald on Sunday, shows significant discrepancies across districts. While Vijayapura saw the highest number of new schools at 292, only five closed. In stark contrast, Bengaluru South saw 255 new schools, with 85 shutting down within five years. In Bengaluru North, the number of schools permitted were 75, and 56 of them shut down within five years of commencement.
School managements are attributing the closures to rigid norms imposed by the department after 2018, alongside what they describe as harassment by local officers. D. Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka, told DH that one of the key obstacles has been the mandatory requirement of half-an-acre land for new schools, which many find financially unfeasible. Additionally, he noted that schools now must navigate multiple departments, including fire safety and building plan approvals, compared to the previous single-point contact with the education department. He further mentioned that they have submitted petitions to the government numerous times about harassment.
Private school representatives said a majority of the schools which closed down were budget schools affiliated to the state board, the report added. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to these closures, disrupting the demand and supply chain, especially in cities like Bengaluru, which has a huge migrant population. The exit of migrant families led to a sharp drop in student enrolments, especially in budget private schools. The rising cost of establishing a new school—at least Rs 20 crore—and the challenge of maintaining a minimum student strength have further added to the burden on school managements.
Another factor cited by private school managements was the rise in the number of chain (franchisee) schools and the entry of corporates into the education sector. “Parents are attracted towards other board schools and so-called corporate and fancy chain schools,” management representative of a private school in the capital city was quoted as saying by the publication.
He added that the increase in the number of CBSE and ICSE schools has also contributed to the closure of state board schools, which, according to him, face discrimination at the local level compared to other boards.
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